Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia returned to her Gulshan residence, Firoza, at around 1:26 pm on Tuesday after returning from Heathrow, London via Doha, where she had undergone four months of medical treatment.
An special air ambulance carrying Begum Zia touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 10:43 am. The aircraft was provided by the Qatari royal family.
It took around three hours for Begum Zia to arrive her Gulshan 2 residence from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to severe congestion created by thousands of BNP leaders and followers who were eager to have a glance of their favourite leader. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her two daughters-in-law — Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and the late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman — was moving towards her Gulshan residence from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with several senior party leaders, welcomed Khaleda at the airport.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Fakhrul expressed hope that the return of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia would facilitate the restoration and advancement of democracy in the country. “She went abroad for treatment after years of suffering under fascist oppression. With the fall of fascism, she was finally able to receive proper medical care. After nearly four months of treatment, she is returning home today. It’s a joyous day for us and the people,” says the BNP leader.
The special air ambulance, provided by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, departed Heathrow Airport at around 9:35pm (BST) on Monday, carrying Khaleda and her entourage. It reached Dhaka after a stopover in Qatar.”
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies gathered along the footpaths stretching from the Airport road to Gulshan Avenue to welcome their beloved leader and party chief. BNP supporters began assembling along both sides of the nearly 10-kilometre route since early morning, holding national and party flags to greet Khaleda on her return.
Khaleda Zia had travelled to London on 8 January in a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar.
Upon arrival, she was admitted to the London Clinic, a private hospital, where she remained under the care of renowned specialists Professor Patrick Kennedy and Professor Jennifer Cross for 17 days.
Since 25 January, she had been receiving treatment at the residence of her elder son, Tarique Rahman.
Following her discharge from the London Clinic, she continued her recovery under the supervision of Professors Kennedy and Cross at Tarique Rahman’s residence.
Meanwhile, the BNP chief’s Gulshan residence, ‘Firoza’, on Road 80, has been fully prepared to welcome her. Upon her return, stringent security measures were observed around Khaleda’s residence. Members of the armed forces, along with law enforcement agencies, were deployed to ensure her safety.
On Tuesday morning, the road in front of Firoza was seen closed to vehicular traffic, with only limited pedestrian access. A tight security perimeter was established by law enforcement officials.
Surrounded by high walls, the residence features a security room at the entrance, where members of the police and the Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF) are stationed in shifts to ensure round-the-clock security.