Khaleda’s condition improves slightly

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept under close observation by physicians at the city’s Evercare Hospital for various ailments, said her personal physician, Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.

“Madam [Khaleda] is under the close observation and supervision of doctors in a cabin. Her condition has improved a little as she has been given treatment as per the advice of her medical board,” he told journalists yesterday.

Earlier on Saturday night, the BNP chief was admitted to Evercare Hospital for some medical tests and required treatment.

Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.

Dr Zahid said the medical board had a meeting on Saturday night following Khaleda’s admission to the hospital, and they suggested various medical tests.

“We have already gotten the reports of some tests, and the medical board will sit this [Sunday] evening again to review the reports and decide the next course of her treatment. The medical board gave her initial treatment after observing her condition yesterday [Saturday],” he said.

Zahid said some members of the medical board examined her physical condition in the morning.

About the reason behind her admission to the hospital, he said the BNP chief’s health check-ups and treatment were necessary as some new symptoms appeared along with her previous diseases.

“It is not right to talk about the patient’s illness in the media. I can only say she has been suffering from various diseases, including heart, liver, and kidney complications… some of them have deteriorated a little. That’s why she has been admitted to the hospital for check-ups and treatment,” the physician said.

Asked how long Khaleda will stay in the hospital, he said, “It will depend on the decision of the medical board and her physical condition. So, nothing can be said at this moment.”

Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital.

She visited the same hospital for health check-ups on February 27. Khaleda has received treatment at the hospital six times since she was infected with the coronavirus in April 2021.