No change in Khaleda's treatment

The medical board, formed to examine BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, did not make any changes to her medication after going through her medical documents yesterday, said the authorities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

“The five-member medical board visited Khaleda Zia around 11:30am and examined all reports for 15 minutes. Her treatment will continue like before. The board will visit her again tomorrow [today],” said BSMMU Director Brig Gen Abdullah Al Harun.

Khaleda's personal physician Abdullah AL Mamun was also with the medical team, he said.

The BNP chief was moved to the BSMMU from Dhaka's Old Central Jail for treatment on Saturday, in line with a High Court order. Khaleda was sentenced to five years in jail on February 8 in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. She landed in prison the same day.

Meanwhile, member of the medical board Prof Sajal Krishna Banerjee of cardiology was replaced by Associate Prof Tanjima Parvin of the same department.

“Dr Sajal Krishna Banerjee is now out of Dhaka. Besides, a female doctor would be helpful for her [Khaleda] treatment,” said Prof Abdul Jalil Chowdhury, of internal medicine of BSMMU, who is heading the five-member medical board.

On Thursday, the High Court asked the authorities to set up a five-member medical board with Prof Abdul Jalil and Associate Prof Badrunnesa Ahmed, a physiatrist of BSMMU.

The board cannot have any current or former members and supporters of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, a pro-Awami League doctors' organisation, or from Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP physicians' platform, the court also ruled.

Apart from Prof Abdul Jalil and Associate Prof Badrunnesa, other members of the medical board are Prof Sajal Krishna Banerjee of cardiology, Prof Nokul Kumar Dutta, of orthopedic surgery, and Syed Atiqul Haq, of rheumatology. Of them, Prof Sajal was replaced yesterday.

In a reaction on Saturday, DAB expressed dissatisfaction with the medical board, saying that three doctors of the team were from Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad.  

Yesterday, a four-member delegation of pro-BNP lawyers, led by barrister Moudud Ahmed, went to the BSMMU to talk to the hospital director about Khaleda's treatment.

Quoting the HC order, Moudud said Khaleda could choose any physician for her treatment, and the board should not keep any doctors from Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad.

“We notice that the court directive is not reflected in this regard. Now, we will wait and see if she [Khaleda] is satisfied with the doctors,” he said.

Replying to a query, Moudud said they did not go to the hospital to meet Khaleda and they were there to talk to the hospital director about her treatment.

In April, Khaleda was taken to the BSMMU for checkups. The BNP had been demanding her treatment at a specialised hospital. They even named United Hospital as a preference.

Khaleda, 73, has been suffering from problems in the knees and other ailments for long, according to government doctors who treated her since she landed in jail on February 8. Her personal doctors who met her in jail said she suffered a “mild stroke” on June 5.