BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight other people at her Gulshan residence have been infected with the coronavirus.
“A total of nine people of this house, including Madam (Khaleda), tested positive for Covid-19,” her personal doctor Mamun told reporters after visiting the BNP chief at her house on Sunday afternoon.
Mamun said Khaleda’s condition is stable and she has no Covid symptom like fever, cough, throat ache and breathing problem.
The physician said a staffer at the BNP chief’s Gulshan house tested positive for coronavirus five-six days ago. “We tested other staff who stay in his room. All of them were positive,” he said.
Khaleda’s domestic help Fatema had also tested positive. A Covid test was arranged for the BNP chief even though she showed no symptoms.
“Her test report came out positive,” Mamun said, adding that a medical board of Khaleda’s personal physicians are treating her.
Also read: Khaleda Zia infected with Covid-19
He said they have made all arrangements for ensuring proper treatment of Khaleda at her residence. “We’ve turned her house into a [makeshift] hospital. We’ve all the preparations, including oxygen and other equipment,” the doctor said.
Besides, Mamun said they have booked a cabin at a private hospital in case of emergency.
He said he did not disclose information about Khaleda’s infection in the morning to protect her privacy “as per the rules of our profession”.
Mamun said other infected people at Khaleda’s house Firoza have also been given necessary treatment.
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul slam Alamgir at a press conference said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition is completely stable with no symptom of Covid-19 though she has tested positive.
He said Khaleda’s samples were taken to icddr,b on Saturday.
Also read: Khaleda tests positive for Covid with no symptom: BNP
At a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said she is now receiving treatment under her personal physicians, led by respiratory medicine expert Prof Dr FM Siddiqui.
“She’s stable and fine. She has no visible Covid symptom,” the BNP leader said.
He said her personal physicians will take steps for further treatment, if necessary.
Fakhrul said Khaleda urged the people to pray for her speedy recovery. “Especially, I urge our party’s leaders and activists at every level to seek divine blessings for our leader’s quick recovery."
“We’d like to assure the people that she’s fine and receiving treatment under her personal physicians who are famous in the country,” Fakhrul added.
Earlier in the day, Health Ministry’s senior information officer Maidul Islam Prodhan said the BNP chief underwent Covid test on Saturday evening and the results came out positive.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
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She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a subordinate court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.