BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Monday, May 5, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. According to party sources, she will depart from London on May 4 aboard a royal air ambulance provided by Qatar and arrive the following day.

Her entourage will include eight individuals: Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Syeda Shamila Rahman Sithi (wife of Koko, Khaleda’s late son), Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, adviser Dr. Aminul Haque Chowdhury, APS Masudur Rahman, and two personal aides—Fatema Begum and Rupa Haque.

Khaleda Zia, who was jailed in 2018 over a corruption case, was released under special consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year through a mass student-led uprising, President Md. Shahabuddin issued an executive order for her release. The court later annulled the verdicts of her two previous corruption cases.

She was flown to London for advanced medical treatment on January 8, 2025, and after 17 days at a clinic, she was moved to her son Tarique Rahman’s residence on January 25. For the first time in over six years, she celebrated Eid with her family. Khaleda had previously spent four Eids in jail or in hospital custody.

Currently, the former three-time Prime Minister remains under treatment at her son’s residence in London. She has been suffering from multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, kidney issues, heart problems, diabetes, and arthritis.