Former Bangladeshi PM Khaleda Zia Travels to London for Urgent Medical Treatment

The 79-year-old leader departs Bangladesh as the nation navigates political uncertainty following Sheikh Hasina's ousting and the rise of an interim government.

• Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's ailing former Prime Minister, was flown to London on a special air ambulance provided by Qatar's emir for treatment of multiple health conditions, including liver cirrhosis and cardiac issues.
• Her departure marks her first overseas trip since her release from jail and her first reunion in seven years with her son, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
• Sheikh Hasina, Zia's longtime rival and former Prime Minister, was ousted in August 2024 after a mass student-led uprising, leaving Bangladesh under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
• The interim government plans to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026, with Zia's BNP pushing for earlier elections while navigating a shifting political landscape.
• The absence of both Zia and Hasina from active politics has created a vacuum, with rising influence from Islamist political groups and efforts by student-led movements to form new parties.

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