Three ministers have claimed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did not suffer a mild stroke, rather her blood sugar level dropped a few days ago.

Khaleda's personal doctors met her at the Old Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road on Saturday and told reporters that the former premier might have suffered a mild stroke on June 5.

The ministers yesterday told the media that Khaleda would be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) but did not say exactly when she would be taken there for medical tests.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday claimed that she is a diabetic patient and her sugar level fell on June 5 but she did not collapse.

Obaidul Quader, also general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said it is not true that Khaleda had suffered a mild stroke.

“I have talked to the home minister and the IG prison in this regard. Though Khaleda's doctors said she might have suffered a mild stroke, the prison doctor said it was because her blood sugar level fell,” he told reporters while visiting the Dhaka-Tangail Highway at Chandra.

“We do not support any neglect in Khaleda Zia's treatment. She has been requested to go abroad for treatment and undergo medical tests at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital,” said the minister.

Talking about the issue, the law minister said, “What her doctors said was that Khaleda Zia thinks she suffered a mild stroke. The home minister has informed me that she will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for necessary tests to determine if she suffered a mild stroke or not.”

He added Khaleda was caught by her personal help Fatema when she was about to fall between 3:00pm and 4:00pm as she was fasting.

The minister said the jail doctors immediately examined her health and found her sugar level low due to fasting. “She turned normal after she took chocolates.”

The home minister later said the government is sincere about the BNP chairperson's treatment.

Talking to reporters at his Secretariat office, he said her personal doctors and jail doctors have suggested conducting some physical tests on her.

“We have already taken initiatives in this regard and advised the jail authorities to send her to the BSMMU. The IG prison will decide when she can be taken there.”

Asked if Khaleda would be sent to BSMMU instead of United Hospital, Asaduzzaman said there are renowned doctors and researchers in addition to her personal doctors at BSMMU.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said Khaleda had neither suffered a mild stroke nor become senseless in the prison.

She became weak when her blood sugar level dropped before Iftar as she is a diabetic patent. She was instantly given a chocolate bar and she recovered soon, he told reporters at a press briefing at his office quoting the IG prison.

Khaleda's personal doctors had issued misleading information, he said, adding that they had done this in order to get sympathy from the court.

A four-member team of doctors met Khaleda and examined her on Saturday. They recommended that the authorities concerned should shift her to a specialised hospital and confirm through necessary tests if she had suffered a stroke.

They also handed over a four-page recommendation to the jail authorities to ensure Khaleda's treatment.

Jahangir Kabir, senior jail superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail, told The Daily Star yesterday that he is not aware if Khaleda had suffered a mild stroke.

“She did not fell unconscious but became weak due to fasting,” he said while taking to this correspondent over phone.

“There has been no decision of taking her to BSMMU. No such decision has yet been made,” Jahangir said in reply to a question last evening.