BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to fly to London as early as midnight or by Friday morning on a Qatari royal air ambulance, according to her medical team, which says all arrangements are now in place for the former three-term prime minister to leave Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Zia’s personal physician Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain told reporters outside Evercare Hospital on Thursday that a board of local and overseas doctors unanimously recommended immediate transfer. He confirmed that plans to fly her on a Qatar Airways medical flight have been approved. Several doctors from Bangladesh and abroad will accompany Khaleda Zia.

Earlier, Zia’s medical board met at 11.30 a.m., joined by specialist physicians flown in from the United Kingdom and China. Dr. Zahid briefed the media at 2.40 p.m. following the meeting.

The move follows a diplomatic request from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry to Qatar’s embassy in Dhaka for an air ambulance, a request that received direct approval from Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after authorities sought a passenger list. BNP has finalised a 14-member delegation to travel with Khaleda Zia.

BNP confirmed that the group traveling with Zia includes family members, doctors, security personnel, and household staff. The list was issued today with the signature of party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Zia’s daughter-in-law Syeda Shameela Rahman is among the travellers, along with Dr. Zahid and Dr. Mohammad Anamul Haque Choudhury, an adviser to the BNP chairperson. Additional doctors joining the medical escort include Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui, Dr. Md Shahabuddin Talukder, Dr. Nuruddin Ahmad, Dr. Zafor Iqbal, and Dr. Mohammad Al Mamun.

The delegation also includes BNP acting chairman’s assistant, Md Abdul Hai Mlollick, and the chairperson’s assistant, private secretary, Md Masudur Rahman.

Two members of the Special Security Force, Hasan Shahriar Iqbal and Syed Samin Mahfuz, will provide security throughout the trip. Household aides Fatema Begum and Rupa Sikdar have been included to support her personal care during the journey.

On January 7 this year, Khaleda Zia was flown to London for advanced treatment in a royal air ambulance provided by Qatar’s Amir. After four months of treatment, the BNP chairperson returned home on May 5.