BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital on yesterday afternoon after prison authorities shifted her there from the old Dhaka central jail for better treatment in response to a court order.
"Khaleda Zia has been admitted to our hospital. She is now on the fifth floor of the Cabin Block," the hospital’s Director Brig Gen Md Abdullah-Al-Harun told reporters at a press briefing, reports UNB.
He said a five-member medical board, headed by the medicine department’s Prof Dr Abdul Jalil Chowdhury, was formed following the High Court order.
After her admission, Harun said, Prof Jalil examined Khaleda's health and completed the necessary formalities to treat her.
He said the medical board would hold a meeting at 1pm today to take a decision about her treatment. "We will begin treating her after the medical board's meeting."
Also Read- HC issues order for Khaleda to be admitted to BSMMU
The other board members are Syed Atqiul Haq of the rheumatology department, Prof Sajal Krishna Banerjee of the cardiology department, Prof Nakul Kumar Datta of the orthopaedic department and Associate Professor Dr Badrunnesa Ahmad of the physical medicine and rehabilitation department.
Asked about Khaleda's physical condition, the director said they would talk about it after the meeting of the board.
He said that Khaleda had also talked to him and the BSMMU vice-chancellor, and exchanged greetings with them when she was taken to the Cabin Block.
Brig Gen Al-Harun said that they had taken additional security measures following the BNP chief's admission to the hospital, adding that the medical board for Khaleda was also reconstituted following the court's order.
However, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, secretary general of pro-BNP Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB), alleged the board was not formed following the court's directive as three doctors of the board were members of pro-Awami League Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip).
Talking to reporters at BSMMU Hospital, Zahid said the court had directed the authorities concerned not to include any member of DAB or Swachip in the board. "But Sajal Krishna Banerjee, Nakul Kumar and Dr Badrunnesa Ahmad are the members of Swachip."
From jail to hospital
Khaleda Zia was taken to the Cabin Block of BSMMU Hospital in a white car of Dhaka Metropolitan Police around 3:40pm yesterday.
Several police vehicles had escorted the vehicle she travelled in,from the old central jail on the Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka.
Hospital sources said she was kept in Cabin No 611 on the fifth floor of the block. Earlier, the jail authorities had booked cabins No 611 and 612 for Khaleda.
Her orthopaedic bed was also shifted from the jail to her cabin earlier in the day.
The hospital’s director and other physicians were present when the car carrying Khaleda arrived.
Clad in a pink sari, Khaleda stepped down from the vehicle amid rain around 3:45pm and sat down in a wheelchair. Later, she was taken to the fifth floor of the Cabin Block.
Several hundred BNP leaders and activists had gathered on the hospital premises to see their party chief, but police intercepted them from approaching Khaleda. They chanted various slogans braving the rain demanding her release.
Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Moudud Ahmed and Mirza Abbas, and Amanullah Aman were present among others.
A huge number of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Ansar and VDP members were deployed at the hospital to maintain law and order and security.
Court order and medical issues
The High Court on Thursday had directed the government to immediately admit Khaleda Zia to the BSMMU Hospital and form a new five-member medical board to treat her.
The former three-time prime minister has been in prison since she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8.
On September 16, another government-formed medical board had suggested admitting Khaleda to a hospital like BSMMU,although they did not find symptoms of any serious disease in her during medical tests.
On April 7, Khaleda had undergone some medical tests at BSMMU Hospital because of her illness.
BNP has long been demanding shifting of their party chief to United Hospital in the city’s Gulshan for better treatment as the conditions of her left hand and leg were worsening.
