Medical Tests: Khaleda to stay in hospital for 2 more days

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, needs to stay at the hospital for two more days as all her medical tests are yet to be completed.

AZM Zahid Hossain, Khaleda's physician, yesterday told The Daily Star that her routine medical check-up was due for more than a year now and it would take some time to be completed.

The BNP chairperson was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Tuesday night. Cardiologist Shahabuddin Talukdar was taking care of her health.

Khaleda's personal physician Zahid said the newly formed 10-member medical board suggested some new tests. A few of those would be conducted on Friday and Saturday.

"The medical board will then review the treatment plan of Khaleda Zia," he said.

The BNP chief has been suffering from arthritis, diabetics, and ophthalmological issues.

Khaleda tested Covid-19 positive on April 11 and in the follow-up test on April 24, she tested positive again.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government on March 25 last year freed Khaleda from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her jail sentences in two graft cases.

She was released from the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University the same day. Since then, she has been staying at her Gulshan residence.

On August 27 last year, the government extended Khaleda's release period for six months. It was extended for another six months on March 15 this year.

On February 8, 2018, the BNP chief was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a court sentenced her to five years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The High Court later doubled her sentence. Khaleda was found guilty in another graft case the same year. Her party, however, claims both the cases are politically motivated.