BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's personal physician Dr. A ZM Zahid Hossain gave a briefing to the journalists in front of London Clinic. Photo : collected

DHAKA, Jan 15, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's various health check-ups at London Clinic, UK are likely to be completed by next few days and then physicians will decide next course of treatment, said her personal physician Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain. 
 
"Madam's (Khaleda Zia) medical tests for major complications will continue today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The doctors will try to make a plan for her next course of treatment depending on medical reports," he briefed journalists in front of the hospital on Tuesday. 
 
Replying to a question about the liver transplant issue, he said, "Yes, it is kept in mind. But everything depends on medical reports and her fitness as she is 79-year old now." 
 
Dr Zahid said many medical tests are being carried out since she was admitted to prestigious London Clinic under the supervision of renowned liver specialist Prof. John Patrick Kennedy.

Besides, 6-7 specialist physicians at the hospital including Dr Jennifer Cross, Dr John Goldstone and Satya Bhattacharya are in the medical board along with physicians from Bangladesh, he said.

He also said Begum Zia was tested coronavirus (Covid-19) positive on April 10, 2021 and since then she had to be admitted to Dhaka's Evercare Hospital for 15 occasions and she stayed at the hospital for 422 days with various complications.

"We treated her by forming a large medical board comprising physicians from prestigious John Hopkins Hospital, other physicians from New York, Australia and Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman and other Bangladeshi physicians," said Dr Zahid.

"Foreign physicians both from John Hopkins and here now at London Clinic appreciated the treatment provided to her at the Evercare Hospital as they said 'You did a wonderful job, excellent job'," he said.
 
"Local physicians treated her amid various limitations as before August 5 the political situation was not favourable at all," he said. 
   
Dr Zahid, also a BNP standing committee member, said the physicians have brought some necessary changes in providing her the most modern treatment on the basis of test reports in the last couple of days. 
 
Providing details about the ongoing treatment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, her personal doctor said that the physicians from various fields including nephrology, hepatology and liver transplantation are examining her every day.
 
Begum Khaleda Zia and her family members sought prayers from the countrymen and thanked everyone, including journalists, the BNP leader said.
 
UK BNP President and Chairperson's Adviser MA Malek and General Secretary Koysor M Ahmed were present at the time.
 
On the other hand, UK BNP President and Chairperson's Adviser MA Malek discussed Khaleda Zia's current physical condition with local journalist Shahed Shafiq in London.
 
Quoting Malek, Shafiq told BSS that Begum Zia is doing much better now. 
 
On January 8, three-time ex-Prime Minister Begum Zia was admitted to prestigious London Clinic.

She was taken to London by a special air ambulance equipped with state-of-the-art health services leaving Dhaka airport on January 7. 

From Heathrow International Airport, London, she was taken directly to London Clinic. Her eldest son, BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, drove his mother to the hospital. Tarique Rahman's wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman was also with them.

She is feeling happy mentally and physically getting her near and dear ones beside her after long. Her younger son late Arafat Rahman's wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman, granddaughters Barrister Zaima Rahman and Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman are taking care of her at the hospital.

Her family members are bringing homemade food for her at the hospital. Morning and afternoon snacks are also being served from home. Her son Tarique Rahman is going to the hospital carrying foods himself.
 
BNP chief's personal physician and party's standing committee member Prof Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain and Begum Khaleda Zia's entourage, member of the medical team Dr. Enamul Haque Chowdhury and UK BNP leaders conveyed this information to local journalists in London and to journalists in Dhaka through the BNP media cell at different times.

The 79-year-old former premier has been suffering from various ailments for long. Her illness worsened after she was convicted in a case in 2018 and sent to prison. In the meantime, her physical condition became very critical several times. She had to undergo treatment for a long time at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.