Khaleda Zia set to travel abroad for treatment

BNP chief Khaleda Zia is set to travel abroad for medical treatment, two and a half months after being released from her prison sentence for corruption.

She will first fly to London in a specialised air ambulance to join her son, Tarique Rahman.

She will then be transferred to a 'multidisciplinary medical centre' in a third country, according to her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain.

“We have begun the process to take her to a multidisciplinary hospital abroad as soon as possible,” said Prof Zahid.

‘‘As part of the process, we’ve contacted authorities to rent a long-distance specialised air ambulance. She will fly to London first. After a short stay there, she’ll be taken to another country with a multidisciplinary medical centre. We hope everything will be finalised soon.”

When asked about Khaleda’s health, Prof Zahid said she was 'stable'. The former prime minister is currently at her Gulshan residence under the supervision of a medical board.

Khaleda’s office has already informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about her plan to travel abroad for treatment, according to Zahid. This was because her physician, nurse and relatives will be accompanying her, he explained.

Khaleda may require a liver transplant, according to sources. There are a couple of medical centres in the UK that provide this service. Specialist doctors at those centres have already been contacted.

The 79-year-old former prime minister has been battling a combination of liver cirrhosis, cardiac disease, lung problems, arthritis, kidney ailments and diabetes.

She has undergone extensive treatment at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka under the supervision of a team of specialist doctors.

Most recently, she was discharged on Aug 21 after a month-long stay at the hospital amid the student-led mass uprising.

Doctors said that Khaleda needed to fly in a long-distance air ambulance equipped with all types of advanced medical facilities.

While there are short-distance air ambulances available for up to four-hour flights to countries like Thailand or Singapore, the 14-hour flight to London requires a long-distance air ambulance, which is only available in certain countries.

Her doctors have already spoken to relevant authorities about arranging the transport.

Cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukdar of Evercare Hospital leads the specialised medical board overseeing Khaleda's treatment. The team also includes cardiologist Dr Zubaida Rahman, the wife of the BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique, and other specialist physicians from the US, UK and Australia.