A group of pro-BNP journalists on Saturday demanded the government take necessary steps to ensure advanced treatment for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad. The demand was made in a statement signed by 1,557 journalists from across the country. Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) president Kader Gani Chowdhury issued the statement. “Begum Khaleda Zia's physical condition is currently at high risk. Under such a situation, there shouldn’t be any politics over her treatment,” the statement said. As a top politician in the country, a former prime minister, a senior citizen, a woman and as a prisoner, they think Khaleda has the minimum human rights to receive proper and advanced treatment. “It’s our responsibility as a nation to ensure her fundamental rights and justice. So, we sincerely call upon the government to allow Khaleda Zia to receive advanced treatment abroad through freeing her on bail by the court,” the statement added. Also read: BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad The journalists hoped that the government will show sympathy towards Khaleda rising above politics considering her overall contributions to the country as a patriotic politician and the difficult period of her old age. They said people will take it positively if the government takes steps for removing the barriers towards sending Khaleda abroad for treatment. The signatories to the statement include senior journalists Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Aman Ullah, Abul Asad, Shawkat Mahmud, Rezwan Siddiqui, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Salahuddin Mohammad Babar, Syed Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Hai Sikder, Ershad Majumder, Kamal Uddin Sabuj, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Masumur Rahman Khalili, Aminur Rahman Sarkar, M Abdullah, Nurul Amin Rokon, MA Aziz, Quader Gani Chowdhury, Ilias Khan, Shakhawat Hossain Badshah, Rafiqul Islam Azad, Kazi Rawnak Hossain, Bakhtiar Rana, Nuruddin Ahmed, Mahmuda Chowdhury, Nirmal Chakraborty and Khurshid Alam. 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. Also read: Govt turns down family’s application to send Khaleda abroad BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir at a recent press conference said Khaleda has a heart problem and her kidney and liver complications are very critical and she needs treatment at an advanced centre abroad. 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.

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.

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.

The health condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia improved slightly on Saturday, but she still needs the oxygen support as her saturation level still fluctuates due to post-Covid complications, said a member of her personal medical team member. “Madam is still being given the oxygen support, though her overall condition marked a little improvement. Her oxygen level is coming down to 90 percent when there's  no oxygen support,” he said. The physician, wishing anonymity, said though the  amount of fluid in her lungs has decreased, It's still being extracted from her lungs which is now a matter of concern. He said the BNP chief’s blood sugar level is gradually coming under control while pain in her joins has relieved significantly. Also read: Khaleda’s fitness to go abroad to be assessed once permission given: Doctor Replying to a question, the doctor said if the trend of improvement in her condition continues, then Khaleda will be able to fly abroad soon. Meanwhile, a BNP senior leader said they have got a positive signal from the government to send her abroad for advanced treatment. He said all the necessary preparations have been taken to take Khaleda to London or Singapore. The BNP leader claimed the BNP chief might leave the country either on Sunday night or the following day if her condition doesn’t deteriorate again. “She’ll be taken to Singapore instead of London, if her condition worsens." He also said Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskander and his wife Kaniz Fatema and her domestic help Fatema will accompany the BNP chief during her travel abroad. Also read: Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad soon: Anisul Earlier on Friday, Khaleda’s personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the 10-member medical board formed at Evercare Hospital in the capital for the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will decide whether she has the physical fitness to travel abroad once the government gives her permission to leave the country. On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhamanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment. Law Minister Anisul Haq on Thursday said the opinion of his ministry on allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad will be sent to the Home Ministry soon. The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. Also read: Khaleda shifted to CCU with breathing problem: Doctor She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on Monday last.  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. Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was 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.

The medical board, formed at Evercare Hospital in the capital for the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, will decide whether she has the physical fitness to travel abroad once the government permits her to leave the country. Talking to reporters after visiting the BNP chief at the hospital, her medical board member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain also said there is no improvement in Khaleda’s health condition. “Her condition is the same today (Friday) as it was yesterday (Thursday).” As journalists asked whether Khaleda is capable of going abroad with her current physical condition, he said, “This question is still irrelevant as she’s yet to be given permission (to leave the country). If the government allows her to go abroad, then the 10-member medical board will decide it." The physician said Khaleda’s family submitted an application to the government seeking permission to send her abroad while BNP urged the government to consider the application. “It’s now up to the government to decide when and how they’ll allow her to go abroad.” Zahid said Khaleda has been undergoing treatment in the country’s one of the renowned hospitals under the eminent doctors from both home and abroad. Also read: Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad soon: Anisul He said the medical board visited Khaleda before Juma’a prayers and examined her health condition. “They later decided to continue the treatment with the prescription they gave earlier.” Zahid, also a vice-chairman of BNP, said Khaleda has still been kept at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) as her condition did not improve. He urged people to pray for the speedy recovery of the BNP chief. On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment. Law Minister Anisul Haq on Thursday said the opinion of his ministry on allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad will be sent to the Home Ministry soon. Also read: Allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment: Fakhrul Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged the government to allow their party chief Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment on humanitarian ground as she has been suffering from post-Covid complications. Amid talks about taking her abroad for advanced treatment, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday applied for the renewal of her Machine Readable Passport (MRP). A party senior leader, wishing anonymity, said the new passport has already been issued and her family received it. The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, 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 around 4pm on Monday last. Her breathing problem later eased. Also read: Ailing Khaleda’s family seeks permission to send her abroad 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. Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was 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.