BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.
A Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) vehicle carrying her entered the hospital premises around 3:40pm on Saturday, some 25 minutes after leaving the old Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road.
Two rooms at the hospital’s Cabin block have been prepared for the former prime minister, according to people familiar with the matter.
Around 3.15pm, Khaleda was escorted out of the old jailhouse and driven to the hospital in Shahbagh under heavy security.
A DMP sedan brought the BNP chief out of the prison. The convoy also included police and RAB vehicles and an ambulance.
Several BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, National Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed were present when she was brought in but they were not permitted to see her.
Her personal aide Fatema Begum has been allowed to stay with her at the hospital facilities.
The 35-year-old, who has been serving Khaleda for around two decades, was also given permission to stay with her at prison.
According to a court order, a five-member medical board comprising of two neutral doctors and three doctors of Khaleda’s choosing have been formed for her.
The board comprises of cardiologist Professor Shajal Krishna Banerjee, rheumatologist Professor Syed Atikul Haque, Professor of orthopedic department Nakul Kumar Datta, Professor of medicine Abdul Jalil Chowdhury and Assistant Professor at physical medicine department Badrunnesa Ahmed.
In April, Khaleda was taken to BSMMU Hospital for medical tests.
The BNP has been calling for the party chief to be transferred to a specialised private hospital for treatment, but the government has proposed that she be taken to BSMMU.
The BNP had not accepted the proposal and prison authorities indicated that Khaleda had also objected and stated the private United Hospital as her preffered medical facility.
A petition was filed with the High Court on Sept 9, when a BNP delegation led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and urged him to move her to a specialised hospital.
Soon after the meeting, the government said it has instructed the BSMMU Hospital authorities for a medical board for Khaleda, which was formed on Sept 13.
On Sept 15 the medical board formed by the government examined Khaleda at the prison facility in old Dhaka where she was the lone inmate and published the reports on Sept 16.
However, members of her party questioned the credibility of the board and her legal counsels said at a court hearing that she will not be receiving proper treatment as the board comprised of physicians who are affiliated with the government.
The High Court then ordered the imprisoned BNP chief to be admitted to BSMMU Hospital as well as gave the permission to avail treatment from doctors of her preference on Thursday (Oct 4).
The 73-year-old has been serving a five-year term since Feb 8, when she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
Also read:
Khaleda’s medical arrangement begins: Prison authorities
HC orders to move Khaleda to BSMMU Hospital
