Khaleda Zia hospitalised again

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital for the third time this year. She is suffering from various ailments including arthritis, said doctors following a health check-up this evening.

BNP chief left her home at Gulshan for the hospital on Saturday afternoon. Syeda Sharmila Rahman, the widow of Khaleda’s late son Arafat Rahman Coco, accompanied her.

Khaleda’s personal physician, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said she would undergo medical tests at the hospital.

Her personal aide ABM Abdus Sattar had earlier sought security for Khaleda from Dhaka Metropolitan Police, informing them about the decision to move her to the hospital.

The 76-year BNP leader returned to her Gulshan residence on Nov 7 after a 26-day hospital stay.

The former prime minister suffers from arthritis, diabetes and complications involving kidneys and lungs. She had been hospitalised with Covid-19 as well.

She was convicted in two graft cases and was taken to jail three years ago.

In April 2020, in the light of the Covid -19 pandemic, the government granted a request from her family for a conditional temporary release from jail for “humanitarian reasons”.

She has since stayed at her Gulshan home under the care of her personal doctors and has had limited interaction with others.

Her family filed a petition to allow her to travel abroad for treatment, but the government said she must return to jail first to apply for permission.