Khaleda in stable condition

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who tested positive for Covid-19, is physically stable, but she needs to stay in hospital for a few more days.

The former prime minister's routine medical check-up which is due for more than a year and a half will take some more time to be completed, her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain told The Daily Star.

Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Tuesday night.

She was admitted under cardiologist Shahabuddin Talukdar.

Zahid said most of her tests have been done and only a few are remaining. Those will be completed soon. "Then all the reports will be reviewed and the treatment plan will be decided," he said.

Zahid said as she was taken to hospital after a long time, doctors want to do all the necessary and regular medical tests.

The BNP chief has been suffering from arthritis, diabetics and ophthalmological problems.

Khaleda tested Covid-19 positive on April 11 and in the follow-up test on April 24, she tested positive again.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government on March 25 last year freed Khaleda from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her jail sentences in two graft cases.

She was released from the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University the same day. Since then, she has been staying at her Gulshan residence.

On August 27 last year, the government extended Khaleda's release period for six months. It was extended for another six months on March 15 this year.

On February 8, 2018, the BNP chief was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her sentence.

Khaleda was found guilty in another graft case the same year. Her party, however, claims both the cases are politically motivated.