The long-anticipated air ambulance meant to fly ailing former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to London is unlikely to arrive from Qatar, with officials confirming that the aircraft is now expected to come from another country under an arrangement facilitated by the Qatar government.

A highly placed official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), seeking anonymity, told Aviation Express that no flight schedule, landing request, or prior notification, all mandatory for medical evacuation flights, has been filed with CAAB or Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

“No schedule for landing any air ambulance has been asked to CAAB so far,” the official said, adding that no operational preparations are currently underway at either CAAB or HSIA.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ protocol wing is working closely with the Qatar government, which is coordinating the medical evacuation arrangement, though the aircraft itself may originate from a third country.

Despite active diplomatic engagement, aviation officials said the absence of a filed flight plan means the transfer remains unlikely today unless the operator submits documentation without delay.

BNP confirms delay; technical issues cited

Earlier on Friday morning, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda Zia’s planned medical transfer to London has been delayed because the special air ambulance provided by Qatar’s emir had not yet reached Dhaka.

He said the aircraft was experiencing technical issues and may arrive on Saturday if the problems are resolved quickly.

“If Madam (Khaleda) is fit to travel and the medical board approves, then, In Sha Allah, she will fly out on the 7th (Sunday),” Fakhrul told reporters.

Family arrives as situation develops

Amid heightened concern over the BNP chief’s condition, Zubaida Rahman, wife of acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman and daughter-in-law of Khaleda Zia, arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning.

She landed at HSIA around 10:45am on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.

Diplomatic correspondence intensifies

On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a 'note verbale' to the Qatar Embassy requesting assistance for Khaleda Zia's medical evacuation.

The Qatar Embassy responded positively, stating that the air ambulance would be ready for deployment immediately once her doctors certify she is fit to travel.

BNP, in a separate letter to the Qatar Embassy, also sought logistical support for transporting Khaleda Zia to England.

Qatar informed the party that all preparations on its side have been completed and it is now awaiting medical clearance from the BNP chief’s doctors.

If the transfer proceeds, it will mark Khaleda Zia’s second evacuation using the same royal Qatar air ambulance, which previously flew her abroad for advanced treatment.

Her health condition has deteriorated again in recent weeks, prompting renewed diplomatic efforts and heightened political attention around the evacuation plan.