A team of UK specialists will come to Bangladesh to treat Khaleda Zia

“We do not have any opportunity to do anything that is outside the medical board’s recommendations at the moment,” her personal physician says

A team of medical experts from the UK is coming to Dhaka on Wednesday to oversee the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently admitted to Evercare Hospital.

Khaleda’s personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain revealed the information at a briefing in front of the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Stating that the US, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and India have already extended their medical assistance, he said: "As I have said before regarding taking Khaleda out of the country, the members of the medical board are examining her. Today, experts also will come from the UK to examine her.

"If after seeing her, if she can be transferred and if we need to transfer her—the medical board thinks that only then can she be taken out of the country for treatment at the appropriate time."

Zahid said that there was no opportunity to take the BNP chief out of the country at the moment.

"We have made all preparations; but the most important thing to remember is the current condition of the patient and, above all, we do not have any opportunity to do anything that is outside the medical board’s recommendations at the moment.”

Khaleda was taken to Evercare Hospital on the night of Nov 23 for a health check-up, but she was admitted after a chest infection was detected.

When her physical condition deteriorated around 3:30am on Monday, she was put on “special care” at the hospital.

A senior BNP leader said Tarique is preparing to return to Dhaka and they hope a new Bangladeshi passport will be issued for him soon.

The interim government’s foreign advisor has already said if Tarique wants to return to the country, the government will issue a travel pass within a day.

Those close to Tarique, however, say that although the advisor spoke of a one-time travel pass, the BNP acting chairman wants to return with a Bangladeshi passport.

Expressing gratitude to everyone on behalf of the Zia family and the BNP, he wrote on Facebook: "This collective support has been a source of immense strength for all of us. We continue to pray for her recovery and appreciate the unity, compassion, and solidarity shown during this difficult moment.”

Tarique went to London for advanced treatment after his release from prison in 2008. He has been living in exile there for the past 17 years.