Khaleda Zia's treatment: Three US physicians to arrive in Dhaka Wednesday

Three specialist physicians from the Johns Hopkins Hospital are coming in Dhaka tomorrow for the treatment of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who has been undergoing treatment at the hospital.

BNP sources said they are supposed to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow, Wednesday.

Law minister Anisul Huq has said the government has given permission to bring these foreign physicians from the US.

Speaking to Prothom Alo on Tuesday, he said the physicians of Khaleda Zia applied for permission to bring in foreign physicians.

Following the application, the permission has been given. The home ministry permission is required for bringing physicians from abroad.

A member of the medical team formed for the treatment of former prime minister Khaleda Zia said the medical board members in Dhaka have been holding meetings virtually with a number of physicians of the US, UK and Australia and providing treatment to the patient.

Three of the US physicians are arriving in Dhaka tomorrow, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to the cabin again today, Tuesday after keeping her at the coronary care unit (CCU) for about half an hour at the Evercare Hospital.

Her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain confirmed this to Prothom Alo at around 12:00pm.

Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital for over two months since 9 August.

Physician Zahid Hossain said Khaleda Zia was shifted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of the Evercare Hospital in the capital at 3:30am on Monday night as her condition deteriorated. She was taken to the cabin again at around 11:30am as her breathing problem subsides a little bit.

While undergoing treatment at the hospital this time, Khaleda Zia was taken to CCU four times.

At a press conference on 9 October, members of the medical board formed for the treatment of the BNP leader said Khaleda Zia is at risk.

The BNP leader Khaleda Zia's medical board has been recommending that she be taken abroad and undergo a liver transplant.

Her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain said the complication of Khaleda Zia's heart and kidney has increased due to liver cirrhosis.

She starts feeling better for some time and after a little while her condition deteriorates again. As a result, she is being given treatment round the clock and sometimes taken to the CCU.

On 25 September, the BNP chairperson's younger brother Shamim Iskandar applied to the home ministry asking for Khaleda Zia to be permanently released and taken abroad for treatment.

But the government rejected the application.

78-year-old Khaleda Zia has been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, as well as kidney, liver and heart diseases.

Khaleda Zia was imprisoned on 8 February 2018 after she was convicted in two cases. The former prime minister was in jail for over two years.

Khaleda Zia, who was convicted in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases, was released on 25 March 2020 by the government postponing her conviction on conditions through an executive order. Since then, her release period has been extended every six month.