Khaleda back home after 80 days

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned home last night after undergoing treatment at the capital's Evercare Hospital for 80 days.

Khaleda's younger brother Shamim Iskander, his wife Kanij Fatema, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior leaders Amanullah Aman, Abdus Salam and some other relatives welcomed her to her Gulshan residence at 8:30pm.

Several hundred party leaders and activists also gathered outside the house to greet Khaleda. She responded to them waving from her car.

Speaking at a media briefing at the hospital, Dr FM Siddiquee, a member of the medical board treating Khaleda, said her health was stable now but it could not be guaranteed that she would not bleed internally again.

"The overall Covid situation in the country is dreadful. A total of 380 officials of Evercare Hospital have been infected with the virus in January alone. So, considering madam's health risk, the medical board has decided to treat her at home."

Siddiquee also said Khaleda was not suffering from any "major internal bleeding" now. "If her condition deteriorates, we are ready to receive her at the hospital again. But now we are considering her house to be safer."

The 76-year-old former premier was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. According to her medical board, she needs to be taken to an advanced medical centre abroad for better treatment.

Khaleda has long been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, as well as dental and eye problems.

She was admitted to the hospital on November 13 last year and moved to the CCU the following day.

Earlier on October 12, she was admitted to the hospital as her temperature started fluctuating.

Khaleda landed in jail on February 8, 2018 in a corruption case. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, she was freed temporarily on certain conditions on March 25 last year.

The term of her release has been extended four times so far.