Khaleda Zia suffers from liver cirrhosis: Medical Board

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, said the medical board formed for her treatment on Sunday.

“Khaleda Zia has been suffering from liver cirrhosis. She has been diagnosed with the disease. Her hemoglobin level is fluctuating… it is 7.8 now. We are trying to keep the hemoglobin level right,” said Professor Dr Fakhruddin Md Siddique, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s medical board, at a press conference held at the BNP chief’s Firoza residence at Gulshan in Dhaka on Sunday evening.

Khaleda Zia, who is now receiving treatment in city’s Evercare Hospital, has bled three times while undergoing treatment in the hospital, said her physicians.

According to clevelandclinic.org, liver cirrhosis is a long-term (chronic) liver disease, while mayoclinic.org says that cirrhosis increases the risk of liver cancer. Most people who have liver cancer have cirrhosis. If someone has cirrhosis, he or she has an increased risk of liver cancer.

Mentioning that the BNP chief needs to be sent abroad immediately for advance treatment, Professor Siddique said, “If she (Khaleda) bleeds again, it would be very difficult to save her life.”

He further said, “We don’t have the technology to control frequent bleeding. If she starts bleeding again here, the risk of her death will increase manifold. She is still in a condition to be taken abroad. The BNP chief must be taken abroad as soon as possible.”

“We’ve already informed the Madam’s family that she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and asked them to take steps to send her abroad as soon as possible,” said Professor Siddique. “Khaleda Zia’s physical condition is now stable, but it can deteriorate anytime in the case of further bleeding in her liver.”

Professor Siddique said they felt very helpless over the existing physical condition of Khaleda Zia for lack of technology to treat her.

The physician said Khaleda needs to go to an advanced medical centre abroad urgently for her treatment for applying “TIPS” technology.

At the press conference, doctors said former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is now suffering from heart disease, kidney ailments and esophageal infections.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on November 13, six days after she was discharged from the hospital.