Preparation goes on to take Khaleda Zia abroad, security tightened

Security has been tightened on the occasion of her foreign visit.

At about 5:00pm on Tuesday, huge presence of the member of different law enforcing agencies was noticed at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan residence 'Firoza' premises.
Besides, the party leaders and workers started thronging at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan residence premises after 3:00pm to bid their beloved leader goodbye.

Moreover, the presence of party leaders and workers was noticed at the roads near the house.

Visiting the spot, this correspondent found that plying of vehicles on the road in front of 'Firoza' remained suspended. The law enforcers were found very active, while the number of mass media workers was higher compared to other days.

Khaleda Zia will leave her Gulshan residence at 8:00pm for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. She is expected to reach the airport at 9:00pm. She will leave Dhaka at 10:00pm by a special air ambulance sent by Qatar's Ameer. Khaleda Zia will meet her son Tarique Rahman in London after long seven and a half years. However, instead of the BNP Acting Chairman's residence, Khaleda Zia will be taken to a hospital directly from Heathrow Airport in London.

A special air ambulance dispatched by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, landed on the VIP tarmac at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around on Monday evening to transport BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London.

The Qatar Royal Family's Airbus A319 air ambulance, designed for long-distance medical evacuations, is equipped with advanced medical facilities, making it a "flying ICU."

It includes ventilators, defibrillators, infusion pumps and cardiac monitors, ensuring continuous care during transit.

The aircraft features a spacious and customisable interior, with areas for stretchers, patient zones and seating for family or specialists.

Onboard, a team of four physicians and paramedics is ready to handle emergencies.

Besides, the A319's advanced climate control, soundproofing, and pressurised cabin ensure both patient comfort and safety, while real-time communication with ground experts enables the onboard medical team to provide continuous care.

With its enhanced fuel capacity and ability to land on shorter runways, the A319 is perfectly suited for long-haul medical flights.

Meanwhile, security has been strengthen at Hazrat Shahajalal International Airport on the occasion of Khaleda Zia's travelling abroad. Several tiers of security measures have been taken at the airport for the former prime minister. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) held meetings with the high officials of the different law enforcing agencies and intelligence agencies.

Biman Bandar Police Station's officer-in-charge (OC) Taslima Akter said 10 platoons of police would be deployed at the airport area. Apart from the Armed Police, there will be Army, Police, RAB, CAAB's AVSEC forces and SWAT teams.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manzur Kabir Bhuiyan said all kinds of security measures have been taken so that no security issues are arisen at the airport. Strict measures have also been taken to enter the airport.

Meanwhile, the central BNP has directed the leaders and workers of the party and its front organisations to avert inconvenience of people when Khaleda Zia will be taken to the airport.

It has issued special instructions to its leaders and activists to avoid causing any public inconvenience while bidding farewell to their beloved leader.

The party has requested the leaders and activists of its Dhaka South and North City units, along with all other affiliated organisations, to gather in an orderly manner on the footpaths to bid farewell to the former Prime Minister, without obstructing traffic or pedestrians.

The party also revealed the route for Khaleda Zia's convoy to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

According to the route plan, the BNP chief will travel to the airport from her residence, Feroza, via the Gulshan-2 intersection and Banani-Kakoli crossing.