Khaleda in CCU with breathing difficulties
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment for Covid-19, was moved to the coronary care unit of Evercare Hospital in the city yesterday with breathing difficulties.
Her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain said the former premier was moved to CCU from the cabin around 4:00pm after she developed breathing difficulties in the morning.
Khaleda's condition was stable and her breathing problems later eased a little, Zahid told The Daily Star.
The BNP chief was admitted to the hospital on April 27 night for some medical tests after she received second positive Covid-19 test result on April 24.
Her doctor had said she needed to stay at the hospital for a few days as her medical tests had been due for more than a year and a half.
Khaleda is receiving treatment under cardiologist Shahabuddin Talukdar.
The BNP chief has been suffering from arthritis, diabetics and eye problems. She first tested Covid-19 positive on April 11.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Zahid told journalists that Khaleda developed breathing difficulties early in the morning.
"Doctors soon examined her and the medical board decided to shift her to CCU," he said.
A 10-member medical board is looking after the treatment of the BNP chairperson.
The physician said Khaleda's treatment was going on properly. "We on behalf of Khaleda Zia request all to pray for her quick recovery."
Asked if the former PM was suffering from breathing problems due to Covid-19 infection, Zahid said, "One can develop breathing problems anytime. She was moved to the CCU after consultations with doctors."
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday evening to inform him about the condition of Khaleda.
Asked if Khaleda's family sought permission to take her abroad for treatment, Fakhrul told The Daily Star that it was not the case.
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, Khaleda had been staying at her Gulshan residence.
The government extended her release period for six months on August 27 last year. It was extended for another six months on March 15 this year.
On February 8, 2018, the BNP chief was sent to 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.