BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, her medical board member Dr FM Siddique said on Sunday.

“We’ve already informed Madam’s close relatives that she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and asked them to take steps to send her abroad as soon as possible,” he told a press conference at the BNP chief’s Gulshan residence.

The doctor said Khaleda’s condition is now stable but it can deteriorate anytime in the case of further bleeding from her liver.

“The bleeding has stopped now, but re-bleeding can start anytime. If it happens, her life will be at high risk,” he said.

He said they now feel very helpless over the current condition of Khaleda for lack of technology to treat her.

The physician said Khaleda needs to go to an advanced medical centre abroad urgently for her treatment by applying “TIPS’ technology.

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He also feared that a time may come when it will be difficult or impossible to shift Khaleda abroad.

Dr Siddique said Khaleda already bled thrice and the third time bleeding was severe, impairing her liver function. "In the last 24 hours, there was no bleeding. “There’s a 50 percent possibility of rebleeding in the next week while 70 percent within the next six weeks. This is obvious.”

"We don't have the supportive technology to control or stop it if Madame bleeds again, we're afraid. If she bleeds again, the risk of her death will increase a lot,” the physician said.

He said ensuring the proper management of a critical patient like Khaleda who has heart, kidney and diabetic problems with the falling hemoglobin level is difficult without TIPS technology if she bleeds further.

Dr Siddique said Khaled’s hemoglobin level dropped to 5.5 initially and it increased to around 10 with the infusion of blood. “It has again come down to 7.8 and we’re giving her blood to increase it.”

Asked whether Khaleda can be treated in Bangladesh by hiring doctors from abroad, he replied in the negative.

Dr Siddique said it is also not possible to establish a set- up in Dhaka to use ‘TIPS’ for treating a single patient.

Shamsul Arefin, another medical board member of Khaleda, said the BNP chief’s treatment is now possible in any advanced medical centre of the USA, the UK and Germany. “If she can't be provided treatment now, her life will be in danger.”

Read: Sending Khaleda abroad essential for peace, stability: Fakhrul

The BNP chief’s medical board members Prof Dr AQM Mohsin, Prof Dr Nuruddin, Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Dr Al Mamun were present at the press conference.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November, six days after she had returned home from the hospital.

On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.

However, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government will consider Khaleda Zia’s appeal if she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail.