BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will return to Bangladesh on May 5 after several months of medical treatment in London. Despite offers for special flight accommodations, she has chosen to travel on a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.

The interim government and Biman authorities had proposed modifying the route from London–Sylhet–Dhaka to London–Dhaka–Sylhet for her convenience, considering her health condition. However, Khaleda Zia declined the offer, saying she did not want to cause any inconvenience to fellow passengers.

BNP Chairperson`s Press Wing member Shamsuddin Didar confirmed this on Friday, May 2, stating that she decided out of concern for other travellers.

Khaleda Zia will fly back on a regular Biman flight, scheduled to depart from London Heathrow Airport at 6:00 pm (London time) on May 4. BNP leaders and activists have made extensive preparations to welcome her.

Sources say her two daughters-in-law may also accompany her. Khaleda Zia traveled to London on January 8 in a special air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, after learning about her health issues.

She has been suffering from multiple health conditions, including liver cirrhosis, heart and kidney problems, diabetes, arthritis, and lung complications. She has received treatment at Dhaka`s Evercare Hospital under a medical board, often in the ICU.

Khaleda Zia was previously imprisoned in connection with corruption cases involving the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trusts. She was jailed on February 8, 2018, and later released on March 25, 2020, through an executive order that suspended her sentence. Since then, her release has been extended every six months.

Following mass protests that led to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, she was granted full release. After that, BNP began the process of arranging advanced medical care abroad.

Now 79, the former Prime Minister continues to face serious health challenges but is returning home after months of treatment.