Khaleda has liver cirrhosis
Physicians of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is now undergoing treatment at the capital's Evercare Hospital, said that not only was she diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, but has also started passing blood.
As the 76-year-old former premier had faced bleeding thrice, she needs TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) technology to intervene and this is available in some specific advanced centres in the USA, UK, and Germany.
"We don't have this technology and neither is it available in Thailand and Singapore. If bleeding reoccurs, chances of death due to bleeding will increase," Professor Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui, a member of Khaleda's medical board, told journalists at a briefing in front of Khaleda's house.
Siddiqui said re-bleeding for liver cirrhosis patients was inevitable and Khaleda's condition could turn critical at anytime.
She has had heart failure, low haemoglobin, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and some other complications.
"That's why we are suggesting that she be taken abroad [for treatment]. There might come a time when moving her will be difficult or impossible."
Responding to a question, he said, "If she could have gone abroad four months ago, she would not have to face life-threatening bleeding."
Siddiqui said Khaleda's condition is now stable but might deteriorate anytime in case of more blood being passed.
He said they now feel very helpless over Khaleda's current condition due to the lack of technology to treat her.
Siddiqui said when she was admitted to the hospital, she went into shock as her blood pressure and pulse dropped abnormally.
Khaleda passed blood on November 13, 17, and 23 and but now there is no bleeding.
"The chances of re-bleeding in next week is 50 percent and 70 percent within next six weeks."
She has long been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, as well as dental and eye problems. The 76-year-old former premier was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 13 and moved to the CCU the following day, nearly a week after she was discharged from the same healthcare facility.
The BNP chief was sent to jail on February 8, 2018, in a corruption case. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she was given temporary release on certain conditions on March 25 last year. The term of her release has been extended four times so far.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday told parliament that Khaleda was now free as she was not in the government's custody.
"She [Khaleda] is free. She is not in our or the government's custody. She, staying here, can definitely receive treatment anywhere according to her will. And she is doing so."
He said this while responding to BNP MP Rumeen Farhana after she said Khaleda was still in the government's custody.
Comments