Staff Reporter :
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for her treatment on Saturday.
“Khaleda Zia has been admitted to the hospital for her necessary medical treatment. She has been given a VIP cabin, where she will stay during her treatment,” Brigadier General Abdullah Al Harun, Director of BSMMU, told journalists.
The BNP chief was taken out from the old Dhaka central jail at 3:10pm to bring her to BSMMU and reached the hospital around 3:40pm.
Meanwhile, Jail Superintendent Iqbal Kabir of Keraniganj Central Jail met Khaleda in the morning for this regards.
BSMMU Director said the five-member medical board formed to treat Khaleda Zia will hold a meeting on Sunday around 1:00pm to initiate requirement of her medical tests and start treatment.
The BSMMU director said, “We will inform Khaleda Zia the names of the doctors of the medical board and more doctor could be included on her preference.”
On the other hand, BNP leaders alleged that the administration barred physicians of Khaleda Zia’s preference to enter her cabin at first hours.
After hours of her admission, Cardiologist Dr. Mamun has get permission to enter Khaleda Zia’s cabin in the evening.
Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Secretary General of pro-BNP Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), alleged that at least three doctors of the medical board were included from Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, a pro-Awami League doctors’ body.
“In such circumstances, we are doubtful of the fact that whether the BNP chairperson will get proper treatment from the medical board,” Dr. Zahid said.
Meanwhile, several hundred leaders and activists of BNP gathered the Cabin Block of the hospital amid rain to see the party chairperson.
At one stage, police drove away all of the BNP leaders and activists from the hospital premises.
The BNP men chanted various slogans demanding Khaleda Zia’s release and proper treatment at any specialized private hospital.
Huge numbers of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Detective Branch of police and Ansar were deployed in the BSMMU areas.
On October 4, the High Court directed the government to immediately admit Khaleda Zia to the BSMMU for her medical treatment.
In response to a writ petition, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government to form a fresh five-member medical board to examine Khaleda Zia’s health condition and start her treatment.
Prof Abdul Jalil Chowdhury of internal medicine and Associate Prof Badrunnesa Ahmed, a physiatrist, of the BSMMU, would head the board.
Other members of the team are Prof Harisul Haque, a cardiologist; Prof Abu Zaffar Chowdhury, an orthopedic surgeon; Associate Prof Tariq Reza Ali, an ophthalmologist; and Associate Prof Badrunnesa Ahmed of the BSMMU.
On September 9, Khaleda Zia had filed the petition on health grounds as she has been suffering from various illnesses.
During the hearing on the petition on October 3, the court was told that the government had formed the medical board with doctors from Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad.
Khaleda Zia’s lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali appealed before the HC to direct the government to send Khaleda to specialised United Hospital as per her choice.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam opposed the petition, saying that the jail authorities had taken steps for providing necessary treatment to the BNP chief.
Senior BNP leaders, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Moudud Ahmed and Mirza Abbas, central leaders Zainul Abedin, AZM Zahid Hossain, Netai Roy Chowdhury, Amanullah Aman, Khairul Kabir Khokon and Nazimuddin Alam were, among others, present at the hospital.
The BNP chief was sentenced to five years in jail on February 8 in a graft case. She landed in prison the same day.
