Khaleda happy over her treatment, claims BSMMU

The authorities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Monday said the health condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s is stable with significant improvement in some cases, reports UNB.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief’s sister Selima Islam, however, said on 25 October that Khaleda was seriously sick and could not lift her hand to eat and do anything without anybody’s help.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed the same yesterday, terming her critically ill.

Speaking at a press conference, the BSMMU authorities also said Khaleda Zia herself is happy over the treatment of the hospital and her life is not at risk as she has been given regular treatment by a medical board formed with specialist physicians. 

“Overall, her (Khaleda’s) health condition has improved significantly in some cases and remained stable in some other cases over the last seven months since she was admitted to our hospital…her condition didn’t deteriorate in any way. She’s stable now,” said BSMMU director AK Mahbubul Hoque.

He also said the BNP chief is receiving good treatment at their hospital and she is taking medicines as prescribed by the five-member medical board formed by the government to provide treatment to her.

In the wake of allegation by BNP leaders and the family members that Khaleda’s health condition turned critical as she was not getting proper treatment, the BSMMU authorities held the press conference on her health condition.

Earlier on Friday, Khaleda Zia’s sister Selima Islam said they want to send the former prime minister abroad for better medical care as she is ‘seriously ill’.

Talking to reporters after meeting her sister at the BSMMU, Selima said, “Her sister’s (Khaleda’s) health condition is very bad. She can’t move as her legs have got bent. She’s even having trouble in lying down in bed. We want to send her abroad for better treatment.”

She also claimed that physicians neither visited Khaleda for nearly two weeks nor provided her any treatment. “So, why has she been kept here (BSMMU) unnecessarily? We want to take her abroad for better treatment.”

Khaleda has been in jail since being convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on 8 February, 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated.

The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the BSMMU since 1 April this year.