Relief minister falls ill in Saidpur, to be airlifted to Dhaka

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu suddenly fell ill at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari on Saturday while travelling to northern Bangladesh on a two-day visit.

He is set to be flown to Dhaka by an air ambulance for advanced treatment.

Abdul Gafur Sarkar, president of the BNP’s Saidpur district unit, confirmed the matter.

According to party sources, Dulu arrived at Saidpur by air from Dhaka in the morning to attend a two-day programme in Lalmonirhat.

After disembarking, he felt dizzy and unwell while holding discussions with party leaders and activists in the airport rest room. He was immediately taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Saidpur Cantonment, where he received primary treatment.

Abdul Gafur Sarkar said, “Preparations were initially made to send him to Dhaka on a scheduled commercial flight at 12:10pm. However, as his condition worsened, travelling on a regular flight was deemed unsuitable. Following doctors’ advice, it was decided to shift him to Dhaka by air ambulance.”

He added that an air ambulance has already departed from Dhaka for Saidpur, and he will be transferred to a hospital in the capital upon its arrival.

The minister is currently under close observation at CMH at Saidpur Cantonment.