Docs closely monitoring Khaleda’s condition

Doctors are closely monitoring the health of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the capital's Evercare Hospital. They are monitoring her vital organs round the clock.

"We are closely monitoring her health and making readjustments to her medication," AZM Zahid Hossain, personal physician to Khaleda, told The Daily Star yesterday.

He said the medical board, formed for treatment of Khaleda, is examining her almost every hour.

Meanwhile, the BNP yesterday alleged that a plan was made to put an end to the life of the party chief.

It also urged the people to get united and wage a movement to (compel the government) send Khaleda abroad for better treatment.

"The law minister lied saying that there is no legal provision for sending Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment. According to section 401 of the CrPC, the government can suspend or pardon the conviction with or without conditions. But their only target is to keep Khaleda Zia away from politics and put an end to her life. That's why they [government] are not exercising that option," alleged BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He was speaking at a discussion, organised by National Peoples Party at Dhaka Reporters Unity, marking the NPP's 14th founding anniversary.

Urging people to take part in today's mass hunger strike, Fakhrul said the BNP's next course of action will be announced demanding Khaleda be allowed to go abroad for better treatment.

The party will stage a mass hunger strike today demanding release of Khaleda and the government allow her to go abroad for better treatment.

The BNP leader said physicians are providing the best possible treatment available here, but they are not having expected results.

Fakhrul said the medical board also suggested sending Khaleda abroad for better treatment.

Taking part in the discussion, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, "I don't know how bad Khaleda Zia's health is. When I asked her physicians, they could not say that she is well."

He suggested forming a platform of political parties under the leadership of BNP to wage a movement to compel the government to allow Khaleda to go abroad.

The BNP chief is suffering from chronic kidney and "decompensated liver" diseases. She has uncontrolled blood sugar, arthritis and other old-age complications.

The former prime minister's family members applied to the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment, but the government rejected the plea.

Khaleda contracted Covid-19 in April this year. She recovered while undergoing treatment at home, but she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 after developing other health complications.

She was later shifted to the CCU where she stayed for almost two months before returning home on June 19.

On October 12, Khaleda was again admitted to the hospital as her body temperature started fluctuating. At that time, a lump was found in her body and she received treatment at the hospital for about three weeks.

The BNP chief was admitted to the hospital on November 13 and was shifted to the CCU the following day, nearly a week after being discharged from the same healthcare facility.

Khaleda was sent to jail on February 8, 2018, in a corruption case. Amid the pandemic, she was freed temporarily on certain conditions on March 25 last year. The term of her release has so far been extended four times.