Khaleda is not responding to medication well

The health condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is still critical and her body is not responding to treatments as per expectations, said physicians and the party leaders.

Talking to The Daily Star, Khaleda's physician AZM Zahid Hossain, last night said, "Doctors are trying their best, but her body is not responding at an expected level. We are trying our best."

Mentioning that the former prime minister should go abroad for better treatment, he said, "Her physical condition can deteriorated any time."

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda's physical condition was still critical.

"Madam is critically ill. She is fighting for her life. We still cannot say that she is out of danger," he said while exchanging views with journalists at Khaleda's Gulshan office last night.

According to Fakhrul, taking Khaleda abroad to an advanced healthcare facility for better treatment has become "badly needed".

"I applied to the government so that they don't give priority to their political thoughts, but give priority to Khaleda Zia's health."

Fakhrul said the medical board, formed for Khaleda, is reviewing her physical condition every day and readjusting the treatment.

"Sometimes her condition improves, sometimes deteriorates," he said.

Fakhrul said he met Khaleda twice and her mental strength is still very strong.

Fakhrul said the medical board said that Khaleda's treatment is not possible here. "She should be sent to an advanced centre to treat the complicated diseases."

The BNP leader said doctors even specifically named the countries that included USA, UK or Germany where Khaleda could take treatment.

"From the party and also from the family, we are communicating with all and taking suggestions from doctors living abroad."

A highly placed sources said that police officials were instructed to remain alert so that rumours centering the illness of BNP chairperson could not be spread.

Khaleda has long been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, as well as dental and eye problems. In April this year, she contracted coronavirus.

She recovered while under treatment at home, but as other health complications cropped up, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.

Khaleda was admitted to the hospital on November 13 night and moved to the CCU on the next day, nearly a week after she was discharged from the same healthcare facility.

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

'GOVT DOESN'T LACK HUMANITY'

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the government does not lack humanity or compassion when it comes to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's treatment.

"The government will take a decision, with utmost importance, regarding the demand for allowing her [Khaleda] to go abroad for treatment."

The law minister said this after receiving a memorandum from the leaders of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum, a pro-BNP lawyers' body, at his ministry office yesterday afternoon.

The memorandum demanded that Khaleda be sent abroad, from on humanitarian grounds, for better treatment.

The Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum leaders said the government can take steps to send Khaleda abroad for treatment by issuing a fresh gazette notification without any condition under section 401(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898, and there is no legal bar for the government to do so.

Section 401(6) says, "The Government may, by general rules or special orders, give directions as to the suspension of sentences and the conditions on which petitions should be presented and dealt with."

In response, the law minister told them that the government will take the decision after examining and discussing the memorandum.