Members of the recently-formed medical board for BNP chief Khaleda Zia have gone to the old jailhouse in Dhaka to examine the former prime minister.
The vehicle carrying the five-strong team entered the premises at Old Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road around 3:45pm on Saturday.
It was seen leaving the facility around 4:50pm.
Jailer Mahbubul Islam told Bangla Tribune that the doctors examined her for 20 minutes. “They are expected to forward their prescription to the prison authorities on Sunday,” he said.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital formed the medical board on Thursday (Sept 13) upon the prison authorities’ request.
The team is headed by medicine specialist Abdul Jalil Chowdhury.
The others are BSMMU cardiology Professor Harisul Haque, BSMMU Orthopaedic Surgery chief Abu Jafar Chowdhury Biru, ophthalmology Associate Professor Tarik Reza Ali and physical medicine Associate Professor Badrunnesa Ahmed.
The doctors did not have any immediate advice, jail physician Mahmudul Hasan told the media.
Responding to queries on moving Khaleda to a hospital, he said, “The doctors of the board did not say anything. We expect to get their advice tomorrow.”
On sending Khaleda abroad for treatment, Hasan said the medical board did not make any suggestions like that.
Asked whether the former prime minister’s condition was deteriorating, he said, “We will get to know everything tomorrow.”
On Sept 9, a BNP-delegation led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan over the party chief’s treatment.
After the meeting, Alamgir told the media that the party chief’s medical condition has deteriorated and that they have requested the home minister to transfer Khaleda at her preferred specialised hospital.
Home Minister Khan said then that they would form a medical board for her treatment.
Khaleda’s counsel have also pleaded to special judge’s court hearing the Zia Charitable Trust graft case seeking an order to move her to hospital. They also moved a motion to adjourn the trial proceeding until she recuperates.
A three-time prime minister, Khaleda has been convicted of embezzling foreign donations made to the Zia Orphanage Trust.
She has been serving her five-year prison term since Feb 8 at Old Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road.
In April, a medical board was formed amid BNP allegations that the party chief’s physical condition deteriorated. She was brought to the BSMMU Hospital from jail for medical tests, following which the doctors said then her condition was “not that serious.”