Doctor: Khaleda doing well but concerned about Covid-19

Cox Gazette April 5, 2020, 11:03 PM Doctor: Khaleda doing well but concerned about Covid-19

BNP chief needs long-term treatment to fully recover from illness

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is doing well in terms of her health, but she is concerned about the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh, a member of her team of personal physicians has said.

Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment at her Gulshan residence, after she was conditionally released from jail for six months on March 25.

“Madam [Khaled Zia] is now stable, but she needs advanced treatment for a long time to fully recover from her illness,” Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said, reports UNB.

He added that they are giving the 75-year-old BNP chief necessary treatment under the supervision of her daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman.

Dr Zahid also said Dr Zubaida is overseeing her treatment from London.

On condition of anonymity, another member of Khaleda’s team of personal physicians said the BNP chairperson is unable to walk and is suffering from pain in the joints of her hands and legs.

“She has been given therapy to relive her pain. The condition of her diabetes still has not come under control. She has some other physical problems for which she needs treatment for a long-time,” the physician said.

Although the BNP chief is ill, she now feels comfortable as she is home, he added.

The doctor further said Khaleda Zia is passing her time by reading newspapers and books, and she is worried about the coronavirus pandemic.

“She is concerned about the plight of poor people, as many of them now have no source of income due to the shutdown of economic activity. She also wanted to know from doctors when the country may be freed from the virus. She looks upset over the rise in coronavirus cases in the country,” he explained.

On March 25, Khaleda was released from jail for six months after an executive order was issued in consideration of her age and humanitarian grounds.

The government passed the executive order for her release on two conditions: she must receive treatment at her Gulshan residence and not leave the country.

Khaleda Zia was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.