Ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s family is all set to fly her abroad for better treatment provided that the government relaxes the conditions of her release.
According to sources in the family, all preparations have been completed to fly her to London via Singapore on a chartered flight.
On Wednesday, the family of the former prime minister, who has been hospitalized with Covid-19, have applied to the government to get her better medical treatment abroad.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal addresses reporters from his residence in Dhaka on Wednesday night Collected
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media that Khaleda's brother Shamim Eskander met him at his home.
“We will consider the matter positively,” he said before adding that the petition was forwarded to the Law Ministry.
Also read - Khaleda’s treatment: Family’s appeal to take her abroad sent to Law Ministry
The BNP said on Thursday they hope the government will allow its chief to fly abroad for advanced medical treatment.
“It’s the constitutional right of every citizen to receive advanced medical care. We hope the government will allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad on humanitarian grounds,” Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a party event.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaking to reporters at a party event on Thursday, May 6, 2021 Dhaka Tribune
On Monday, Mirza Fakhrul met the Home Minister at his residence to discuss the matter.
On Tuesday, a medical board, consisting of Khaleda’s personal physicians and doctors at the Evercare Hospital, where she has been under treatment since April 27, suggested that the former premier be taken abroad for better treatment.
Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, a member of Khaleda Zia’s personal medical team, told Dhaka Tribune that even though her condition was stable, it might deteriorate any time “since she had been suffering from various health problems for a long time before being infected with Covid-19.”
According to family sources, preparations are underway to take her to London where her elder son Tarique Rahman lives with his family. Tarique has been in London since 2008 on medical grounds after securing parole in various cases.
The 76-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 twice in a month -- on April 10 and April 24. Her blood report and CT scan results were normal.
Also read - Ailing Khaleda Zia can travel abroad if...
She was moved to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Evercare Hospital on Monday after complaining of breathing issues. Her shortness of breath was caused by excess fluid accumulating in her lungs.
Khaleda’s lawyers have said that she can travel abroad if the government relaxes the conditions for her release or lifts her sentence under Section 401 of the Penal Code.
Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq told Dhaka Tribune that the former prime minister could go abroad if the conditions related to her detention were relaxed. “But they need to apply to the government for permission.”
He said that an application had been filed in April this year before she was infected with Covid-19.