Khaleda Zia’s health yet to improve, London trip ‘on hold’

A member of her medical board, wishing anonymity, told UNB on Monday that Khaleda Zia’s recovery is still not at the level needed for an air trip.

“Whenever one complication improves, another appears. While one health parameter is under control, another rises,” the doctor said.

He said while her long-standing liver complication is being managed, the medical board remains concerned about her kidney problem. “So, our medical team has decided not to send her abroad until her condition improves further.”

Khaleda Zia, 80, has been treated at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) on November 27 due to multiple health complications.

Her treatment is supervised by a board led by cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, including specialists from Evercare Hospital and from the UK, USA, and China.

The former prime minister has long been suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney, liver, lung, heart, and eye problems.

Currently, a medical board of around two dozen local and foreign specialists meets daily at Evercare to adjust her treatment.

Another board member said her health is not worsening, but she is still at risk. “Advanced care is being given in the CCU. Each night, the board reviews her condition. Specialists discuss individual issues, adjust medications, change doses, or stop and restart medicines as needed.”

He said Khaleda’s daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s wife, attends the board meetings in person while meals are sent daily from her Gulshan home as advised by the doctors.

Air Ambulance Not Arriving Tuesday

The air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar to fly Khaleda Zia to London will not arrive on Tuesday either as the operator has asked to cancel its previously approved landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

A senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said Germany-based FAI Aviation Group submitted a formal request through a local agency to withdraw its earlier landing slot.

Earlier, CAAB had approved the ambulance to land in Dhaka on Tuesday morning.

The BNP had planned to fly Khaleda Zia to London on Friday for advanced treatment in a special air ambulance from Qatar.

However, the flight was first delayed due to a “technical issue,” and later the Qatari embassy said the Emir’s special ambulance would not come and promised a replacement aircraft from Germany.

BNP has not yet confirmed when the new air ambulance will arrive or when Khaleda Zia will be flown to London, reports UNB.