BNP chief Khaleda Zia transferred to Critical Care Unit

The BNP chief’s condition deteriorated early on Tuesday morning, a doctor said

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been again transferred to the Critical Care Unit, or CCU, at Bashundhara’s Evercare Hospital.

“National leader Begum Khaleda Zia is very ill,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference from the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Monday morning.

“We have said it repeatedly. You have heard it from her doctors. Last night, she had to be taken to the CCU, where she is receiving treatment.”

“She is at the CCU now. We spoke to the doctors this morning. They say that Madam’s condition is worrying.”

Khaleda, a former prime minister, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Aug 9. She has been suffering from many health issues, including liver complications, kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, for a long time.

“When Madam’s condition deteriorated, the medical board decided to transfer her to the CCU at 3:30 am,” said Dr AZM Zahid Hussain, Khaleda’s former physician.

A team of 19 doctors under the leadership of Dr Shahabuddin Talukder of Evercare Hospital is monitoring her condition at all times, he added.

The medical team had said at a press conference recently that treatment for Khaleda’s condition was unavailable in Bangladesh and that her life was at risk if she was not transferred to an advanced medical facility abroad. As she is suffering from incurable liver cirrhosis, a transplant is necessary.

Khaleda, jailed for 17 years in connection with two graft cases, was released through an executive order on Mar 25, 2020, that allowed her to stay at home but barred her from travelling abroad.

On Sept 25, Khaleda’s family petitioned the home ministry to allow her to travel abroad to seek medical treatment. The law ministry turned down the application.