The plan to send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for advanced treatment has faced a setback following a slight deterioration in her health on Thursday night and a delay in the arrival of an air ambulance.

The medical board overseeing Khaleda's treatment met at Evercare Hospital last night to review her condition.

During the meeting, local and foreign specialists decided to keep her under close observation for 48 hours to assess whether she is stable enough to travel abroad. Prior to reaching this decision, the team conducted several tests and evaluations, according to board sources.

Besides, the air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar, scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday night, failed to do so due to technical issues.

Qatar is now supposed to send another air ambulance rented from a German company.

Meanwhile, Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, arrived in Dhaka from London yesterday morning and visited her mother-in-law at Evercare.

She held a meeting with doctors before heading to her Dhanmondi residence. Hours later, she returned to the hospital to attend last night's medical board meeting.

On Thursday, Khaleda's personal physician, AZM Zahid Hossain, said she would leave for London on a Qatari air ambulance by Friday morning.

After it failed to arrive due to technical issues, the Qatar embassy in Dhaka told this newspaper yesterday that the Qatar government has already rented an air ambulance.

"Whenever the medical board decides Khaleda is fit to travel, the air ambulance will fly in from Georgia and take her to London," said Asadur Rahman, public relations officer at the embassy.

The 80-year-old former prime minister has been receiving treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Evercare Hospital since November 23.

She has long been battling multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis. She has a permanent pacemaker and has previously undergone stent implantations in her heart.

Earlier this year, Khaleda spent four months in London for treatment. She returned home on May 6.

ZUBAIDA IN DHAKA

Zubaida arrived in Dhaka yesterday morning from London on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. She went directly to Evercare, where she was welcomed by party leaders and activists.

Zubaida, also a member of the medical board overseeing Khaleda's treatment, spent two and a half hours at the hospital and stayed nearly 40 minutes with Khaleda in the CCU. She then left for her Dhanmondi residence.

She returned to the hospital last night and joined the meeting with the medical board comprising local and foreign specialists.

Khaleda's other daughter-in-law, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, wife of late Arafat Rahman Koko, and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also visited the hospital last night.

Zubaida's last visit to Bangladesh was on May 6 this year, after nearly 17 years, to meet Khaleda. After spending a month with family members in Dhaka, she returned to London on June 5.

SPECIAL PRAYERS

Special prayers were held across the country for Khaleda's recovery after Juma prayers yesterday.

Fakhrul and other senior leaders participated in a prayer gathering organised in front of the central party office in Nayapaltan.

During the event, Fakhrul said, "Begum Zia dedicated her life to democracy. Her illness began in prison. She became gravely ill due to a lack of proper treatment."

BNP leaders and activists at all levels, along with people from all strata of life, from the capital and across the country, participated in the prayers.

Prayers were also held in temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship for Khaleda's speedy recovery.