BNP chief Khaleda undergoes angioplasty with stenting after ‘mild’ heart attack

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has undergone angioplasty with stenting at a hospital in Dhaka after she suffered a heart attack, prompting the party to reiterate its demand that she be allowed to receive treatment abroad.

Doctors completed the angioplasty on the former prime minister at Evercare Hospital on Saturday afternoon after she suddenly fell ill in the wee hours and was rushed to the private facility.

Briefing the media at her Gulshan office, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the doctors found 99 percent of Khaleda’s main artery blocked and used ballooning technology to insert the stent. “Doctors are very much optimistic that this treatment will relieve her from the heart problem temporarily.”

Citing the doctors, Fakhrul said Khaleda suffered a “mild” heart attack. Later at the hospital, she suffered symptoms, such as suffocation, prompting the doctors to conduct the angioplasty quickly. She was taken to the operation theatre at 1 pm and brought back to a Critical Care Unit cabin one and a half hours later.

The 76-year-old had a ‘routine’ health check-up at the private hospital on Apr 6 as she has been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung and eye issues for a long time. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 and spent 81 days in hospital care last year. She also experienced bleeding in the digestive tract and liver cirrhosis later in November.

She was convicted in two graft cases and was taken to jail three years ago. In April 2020, in the light of the COVID pandemic, the government granted a request from her family for a conditional temporary release from jail for “humanitarian reasons”. She has since stayed at her Gulshan home under the care of her personal doctors and has had limited interaction with others.

Her personal physician Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said the BNP chief suddenly fell ill at her home. “We rushed her to Evercare Hospital in her younger brother Shamim Eskander’s car around 3 am [Saturday],"

Khaleda’s family has petitioned the government several times for permission to take her abroad for medical treatment. The government has repeatedly denied the request, claiming it is impossible under the current law that allows her to stay out of jail.

Fakhrul claimed Khaleda’s heart disease is life-threatening and the doctors once again recommended sending her abroad for advanced treatment on Saturday. “They’ve been able to provide her with treatment temporarily. But the treatment for her other diseases is not possible in the country.”

“Her illness today proved that her life will be in danger if she is not given advanced treatment abroad immediately,” Fakhrul said. He urged the government to allow her to travel abroad. “Otherwise the government will have to bear the responsibilities.”

Led by cardiologist Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, a team of doctors overseeing the care of Khaleda at the hospital recommended the angiogram test to check the condition of her heart at an emergency meeting, Zahid said earlier.

He also claimed the panel instructed members of her family to prepare to take her abroad for advanced treatment after analysing her reports.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the government would not stop the BNP and Khaleda’s family from bringing doctors from abroad for her treatment. “They can bring doctors from abroad if they wish to. I don’t see a problem in it,” he said at a press conference at the party office.

He also said the government would not take responsibility for Khaleda’s health, asking journalists to contact the ministries of home and law for comments on the BNP’s demand. “She [Khaleda] was freed and got the chance to stay at home on [Prime Minister] Sheikh Hasina’s generosity.”