No change in Khaleda’s condition: Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said there has been no improvement in the health condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Dhaka, Nov  23 : BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said there has been no improvement in the health condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital with multiple complications.

“She’s now in between life and death. The medical board formed for her treatment sat in a meeting today. What we came to know so far is that there has been no significant improvement in her condition,” said Fakrul while talking to reporters at BNP’s Gulshan office.

“When I visited her several times I found her mentally strong. Doctors also said she is mentally very strong despite her illness which will help her respond to treatment,” he said.

He urged the government to allow her to go abroad for treatment without further delay. “I urge the government to allow her to go abroad without considering the issue as political one and considering her contributions to the country and its people,” said Fakrul.

“Doctors are giving her the best ever treatment here, but her recovery is not possible in the country due to her critical condition. Doctors suggested us names of three countries – the UK, the USA or Germany -- where her treatment is possible,” he added.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on November 13, six days after she had returned home from the hospital.

The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, critical cardiac, kidney ophthalmological and dental complications. The hemoglobin level in her blood has also dropped.

On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.

Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, said recently that the BNP chairperson has to make a fresh application first by going back to jail to go abroad for treatment.

A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Law Minister Anisul Huq seeking the government’s permission to send ailing Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment.

They argued that there is no legal obstruction for the government in allowing Khaleda to go abroad.

The minister said that they will examine the memorandum,reports UNB.