BNP chairperson
Khaleda recovers from vaccine side effects
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has recovered from fever and body pain that she experienced as side effects after taking the first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
“Madam (Khaleda) was affected with light fever and body pain as the side effects of the first dose of the Covid vaccine. But her fever and pain have already subsided,” the BNP chief’s personal physician, Dr Al Mamun, told UNB on Friday.
He, however, said Khaleda is still suffering from heart, lung, and some other complications.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who recovered from Covid-19 over two months back, has now been receiving medical treatment at her Gulshan house for those complications.
Read: Khaleda takes 1st dose of Covid vaccine
On Monday, Khaleda received the first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in the city’s Mohakhali area.
She is scheduled to get the second dose of the vaccine on August 19.
On April 11, she tested positive for Covid-19 and she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
The BNP chief tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Read: Khaleda receives vaccination SMS: Dr Zahid
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Khaleda receives vaccination SMS: Dr Zahid
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has got an SMS to receive the first dose of Covid vaccine as she got registered online through a government-approved app, ‘Surokkha’, 10 days back.
“Madam got an SMS as a formality to have the first dose of the Covid vaccine,” said her medical team member and BNP vice-chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB on Sunday.
He said the BNP chief is likely to get vaccinated any day before Eid-ul-Azha.
READ: Khaleda registered online for Covid vaccine: Dr Zahid
Replying to a question, he said Khaleda will go to Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in the city’s Mohakhali to receive the vaccine maintaining health safety rules.
On July 8, the BNP chairperson got registered for the vaccine.
During the registration, Zahid said, the BNP chairperson mentioned the National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital as the centre for having the vaccine.
On April 11, the 76-year-old BNP chief tested positive for Covid-19 and she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
A 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
READ: Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP
BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is deliberately trying to obstruct the advanced treatment of its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia.
“Our leader Khaleda Zia is currently seriously ill. When her family members submitted an application to send her abroad in May last, the law minister himself said Khaleda Zia's travel abroad was possible only if the conditions under which she was released were revised,” said party organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Naya Paltan central office, he said the law minister’s such remarks were published in various international media, including the BBC and Al-Jazeera, and also in the local media.
Also read: Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister
“But now he (the law minister) is saying it’s not possible to make a U-turn. It’s manifested that the government is deliberately obstructing the treatment of our leader,” the BNP leader said.
He criticised Information Minister Hasan Mahmud for his remark that the government needs to rethink about taking back Khaleda to jail, saying the minister issued such a threat as BNP is raising voice in favour of people at this difficult time of the country.
“The government is trying to hush up its failure to deceive people by spreading a smear campaign against the BNP and issuing the threat of jail and repression,” Prince observed.
Also read: BNP hits back at PM over her remarks on Zia, Khaleda
He said their party chief is not completely freed yet from jail as she is apparently in prison with various conditions. “The government is now trying to hamper her treatment with those conditions.”
Prince alleged that the police keep arresting BNP leaders and activists in different districts, including Chattogram, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, and Bagerhat, amid the countrywide strict lockdown.
Stating that a day-labourer, Din Isalm, in Munshiganj's North Muktarpur killed himself out of hunger on Sunday, he alleged that the government is not providing necessary relief assistance to the poor and helpless people during the lockdown.
Also read: No reason to seek presidential clemency by Khaleda: BNP
Prince urged the government to ensure adequate food and financial assistance for low-income and jobless people affected by the lockdown, including public transport workers, hawkers, shop workers, small traders and day-labourers.
Refuting the ruling party leaders’ comment that many BNP leaders are trying to join Awami League, he said Awami League is now a ‘sinking’ ship. “No one wants to get on a sinking ship. Those who are passengers of the ‘sinking’ ship are making such comments to hide their failures. You'd rather see in the future how many people are jumping out of the sinking ship to save themselves.”
BNP hits back at PM over her remarks on Zia, Khaleda
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday termed ‘unexpected, indecent and devoid of political etiquettes’ the Prime Minister's statements in parliament about Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and BNP.
“Sheikh Hasina’s statements as the Leader of the House were nothing but tasteless and cooked-up ones,” he said at a virtual press conference.
Fakhrul alleged that the Prime Minister tried to demean BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with her ‘imaginary’ remarks in parliament on Saturday.
“The nation doesn’t expect such statements from the Leader of the Parliament. We think she’s set a bad example as the Leader of the House. We strongly condemn and protest her statements,” he observed.
The BNP leader said their party standing committee at a virtual meeting on Saturday condemned Law Minister Anisul Haq’s remark in parliament that Khaleda Zia has to first confess to her corruption offences and then applied to the President seeking clemency to go abroad for her treatment. “His comment is audacious and indecorous.”
Read: Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months
“The meeting thinks Khaleda Zia has been convicted and sent to jail in false and fabricated cases out of political vengeance. She’s not even granted bail, though almost all the other accused of such charges got bail,” he said.
Fakhrul said Khaleda was temporarily shifted to her Gulshan residence from jail in March last year through an administrative directive following an application by her family. “There’s nothing mentioned in the laws that the government cannot allow her (Khaleda) to go abroad for treatment.”
He said it can never be acceptable that a three-time former prime minister cannot be allowed to go abroad for treatment on humanitarian grounds.
The BNP leader said there is a scope for the government to permit the BNP chief to go abroad under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) if it wants. “In fact, they (govt) are curtailing their own power to show a hostile attitude towards Khaleda Zia.”
He said their standing committee hopes the government will allow the BNP chief to receive treatment abroad coming out of its negative attitude towards her.
Sought his comment on Awami League General Secretary Obadiah Quaver’s statement that many BNP leaders are trying to join the ruling party, Fakhrul said the government never succeeded in its effort to split and weaken BNP.
He also said BNP will not be affected much even if some of its leaders leave the party since it enjoys popularity.
Read: Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Earlier, speaking at a virtual discussion, Fakhrul wondered as the health minister is not resigning from the Cabinet in the face of huge criticisms by MPs in parliament.
“What a shameless person this health minister is! MPs from his party and from the opposition have raised voices against him in parliament, but he’s not stepping down. It seems he has no sense of shame,” he observed.
Pro-BNP faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the virtual discussion on press freedom.
Fakhrul said the government is trying to regulate press freedom by ‘abusing’ the Digital Security ACT (DSA).
He said journalists are being repressed and harassed by implicating them in cases under the DSA if they criticise the government or write anything against it.
Wake up for movement: Fakhrul to youths
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday called upon the youth to wake up and reinforce the movement for the 'restoration’ of democracy.
“There’s no alternative to a movement if we want to restore the democratic system in Bangladesh, materialise the dream of the 1971 independence and fulfil the aspirations of people,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, he said, "I would like to call upon the youth to come forward as time is running out fast. You’ve to wake up and save the country and its people.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Independence arranged the programme commemorating the day of detention of Khaleda Zia along with her two sons by Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War.
Also read: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
Fakhrul said they want to carry out the movement not in the interest of any individual or any party as it is meant for freeing the nation from the grasp of the current ‘regime which is destroying’ all the achievements of the nation.
He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail as she tried to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s all lost rights.
The BNP leader said their party’s over 500 leaders and activists have been made disappeared and lakhs of others have been implicated in different cases. “So, BNP must play the leading role in changing the prevailing situation of the country.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they decided to observe the day of Khaleda’s detention by the Pakistani forces since the government has been trying to distort the history of the Liberation War to mislead the young generation.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
He alleged that Awami League wants to undermine Zia and Khaleda getting scared of the ‘huge popularity’ of BNP.
Another BNP standing committee member, Mirza Abbas, said Awami League does not want to hold a fair and credible election as the party has no popularity. “That’s why the party is now trying to shift the NID from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry to cement its power.”
He said people are getting ready to bring a change in power by ensuring the fall of the current government.
BNP standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, among others, addressed the programme.
No reason to seek presidential clemency by Khaleda: BNP
BNP on Thursday said there is no reason to seek clemency from the President by its chairperson Khaleda Zia since she did not commit any crime.
"There’s no question of seeking pardon as she (Khaleda) has not committed any crime. The Law Minister’s remarks (on confessing Khaleda’s corruption offences) reflect the nefarious political motives of the fascist government, which is nothing but a foul play,” said party organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Read: Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months
On Wednesday, Law Minister Anisul Haq in parliament said Khaleda Zia has to confess first to her corruption offences and then seek pardon from the President to go abroad for her treatment.
Prince said the Law Minister’s comments on Khaleda also manifest the government’s political vengeance and an attempt to control and pollute politics. “We strongly protest the statements made by the law minister in parliament.”
He said the BNP chairperson has been suffering from serious heart, kidney and liver complications, and receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence since she was discharged from Evercare Hospital in the capital.
The BNP leader said the medical board formed at the Evercare Hospital for Khaleda’s treatment recommended sending her to an advanced centre abroad. “We urged the government to shun political vengeance and not to create any barrier to sending three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment.”
He also refuted the law minister’s comment that there is no scope to reconsider a fresh application of Khaleda’s family to send her aboard under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) since it has been disposed of earlier. “The government can do it if it wants to under Section 401 of the CrPC.”
Read: Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Prince alleged that the government has been trying to push Khaleda towards death by creating obstacles to ensuring her advanced treatment. "We would like to say the government has to shoulder all the responsibilities if anything bad happens to Khaleda Zia.”
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down.
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.
Khaleda stable, but not fully well: Doctor
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition is stable, but she has not yet fully recovered from various diseases, her personal physician Dr FM Siddique said on Saturday.
“Alhamdulillah, she (Khaleda) is stable. That doesn't mean that she's fully well,” he told reporters at a briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan residence.
The physician said the medical team formed at Evercare Hospital together with experts from outside the country will continue Khaleda’s treatment at her house for the time being by keeping her under close observation.
Earlier, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 54 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
She was released from the hospital around 8:10pm and she reached her Gulshan residence, Firoza, around 8:35pm.
Also read: Khaleda discharged from hospital after 54 days
Explaining the BNP chief’s health condition, Dr FM Siddique said the critical condition of her heart, liver and kidneys caused by Covid complications eased to some extent. “But those illnesses still remain and we’ve not yet been able to complete the treatment and necessary process to address them. So, the risk is there for her.”
He said they have planned to treat her at home, but she may be taken to the hospital after two or three weeks for reviewing her condition. "The complications she has are primary diseases. We’ve taken some decisions from the medical board to treat them.”
Asked whether it is necessary to send Khaleda abroad for advanced treatment, the physician said they have been able to control some of the complications to some extent by continuing her treatment.
“We’ve detected problems in her liver, but the assessment should be done at an advanced centre to apply artificial liver support and other advanced technologies, if necessary. Or else, this could affect the whole body and cause some major complications. We don't think we have that kind of technology or that kind of advanced treatment support in Bangladesh,” FM Siddique observed.
Replying to a question as to why the BNP chief was brought back home without her full recovery, he said it has now become risky to keep her in the hospital for a long time since she had been affected with blood infections thrice.”
Earlier in the day, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir went to the hospital and talked to the doctors about her health condition and release.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief was staying in the hospital for treatment for various comorbidities and post-Covid complications.
Also read: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down.
Also read: Khaleda struggling to survive: Abbas
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.
Khaleda discharged from hospital after 54 days
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia got back home on Saturday night from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 54 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
She was released from the hospital around 8:10pm as per the advice of the medical board formed for her treatment.
The BNP chief reached her Gulshan residence, Firoza, around 8:35pm.
“The medical board has decided to discharge Madam (Khaleda) from the hospital as her condition improved,” the BNP chief’s personal physician Dr Mohammad Al Mamun told UNB.
Also read: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
Khaleda taken back to cabin from CCU
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was taken back to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital on Thursday, just after a month.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said she was moved to the cabin around 5pm as per the advice of her physicians.
"Madame (Khaleda) has been brought to the cabin as her long stay in the CCU is risky. As she has already had infections there, the doctors have advised taking her back to the cabin,” he said.
Also read: Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
He said the BNP chief will be given treatment for post-Covid complications with CCU facilities in the cabin.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Also read: Remove barriers to sending Khaleda abroad: BNP
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief has still been suffering from post-Covid complications.
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.
Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul
The body temperature of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, being treated at Evercare Hospital in the capital for over one and a half months back, is now under control, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Sunday.
"I would like to thank the doctors as they’ve been providing treatment to her (Khaleda) tirelessly. Her body temperature is now under control due to their proper treatment,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking his 40th death anniversary.
Also read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
Fakhrul also said doctors are hopeful that the fever may not affect her further as she has been given necessary treatment.”
He, however, voiced anger over the denial of permission by the government to send the BNP chief abroad for advanced treatment.
"We’re saddened that the leader who had fought for democracy throughout her life and was tortured by Pakistani occupation forces in 1971, is not given any opportunity now for her treatment abroad, " the BNP leader said.
He said they have repeatedly been talking about advanced treatment of Khaled, but the government is depriving her of that opportunity because of their “vengeful politics”.
On Friday, Fkharul said Khaleda was suddenly affected by fever suddenly on Thursday night.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Also read: Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital, a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from post-Covid complications.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down as a convicted person cannot avail of such a scope.
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.