Reza Mahmud :
The whole nation become worried and paused over serious illness of the BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia as her health condition remaining unchanged for a week after taking to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus visited Evercare Hospital on Wednesday evening to inquire about the health of Khaleda Zia who is currently undergoing treatment there.
According to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, he spent around half an hour at the hospital, during which he urged Khaleda Zia’s family members, party leaders, and supporters to remain patient. He assured the family of full government support and called upon the nation to pray for her swift recovery.
During the visit, Khaleda Zia’s medical team briefed the CA on her health condition, noting that she is receiving care from specialist doctors from Mount Sinai and Johns Hopkins in the United States, as well as medical experts from the United Kingdom, China, and other countries.
National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman accompanied the chief adviser during the visit.
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir received the Chief Adviser at 7:07pm and escorted him directly to Khaleda Zia, said Sayrul Kabir Khan of the BNP Media Cell.
Khaleda Zia’s personal physicians, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, were also present at the time.
Political analysts said, the whole nation become paused with Begum Khaleda Zia as she is the most respectable and beloved aged politicians of the country.
When contacted, eminent political analyst Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah on Wednesday told The New Nation that, “As the health condition of Begum Khaleda Zia remaining serious and unchanged for a long week, the people of the country, in the other words, the whole nation become clogged.”
“You see the people almost talking over her health condition keeping aside important work.
Besides, the political parties including the BNP nearly closed their campaigning activities though the next polls are approaching,” he said.
Professor Mahbub Ullah also said that several rumors also spread and conspiracies become hatched over the issue and beyond.
The political analysts said, some quarters are trying to push the government to delay the upcoming polls and such other conspiracy theories are being hatched.
Meanwhile, Professor Dr. Nuruddin Ahmed, a renowned hematologist and member of Khaleda Zia’s medical board, said, “Madam’s condition is unchanged. She is the same as before.” When asked whether her physical condition has improved, he replied, “No, it is the same as before. We cannot say there is either improvement or deterioration.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Fisheries and Livestock Affairs Adviser Farida Akhtar visited the hospital. Later, one of her personal officials said that Madam (Farida Akhtar) went to see the BNP chairperson. She entered the CCU. The BNP chairperson responded to her – she returned the greetings through gestures.
He added that at 1:38pm on Wednesday, Adviser Farida Akhtar entered Evercare Hospital to inquire about Khaleda Zia’s health. During this time, she spoke with the BNP chairperson’s doctors and family members.
Another doctor from Khaleda Zia’s medical board said that Madam’s condition is stable. She is responding a little. When doctors and family members call her, she tries to react somewhat. However, this cannot be considered a hopeful improvement. Various health parameters are fluctuating.
Security in and around Evercare Hospital has been intensified since Khaleda Zia was admitted. Members of the Special Security Force (SSF), Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR), police, and other law enforcement agencies have been stationed in the area.
Barbed-wire barricades have been placed at the hospital’s main entrance, significantly limiting public access.
Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital since 23 November due to multiple critical health issues.
She was shifted to the CCU on 27 November following a worsening of her condition.
Meanwhile, another team of specialist doctors from China was set to arrive in Dhaka last night to join the ongoing treatment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. BNP Standing Committee member and Khaleda Zia’s personal physician, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, confirmed the development on Wednesday, according to party media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Dr Zahid Hossain visited the hospital around 2pm. Speaking to journalists afterwards, he said no new decisions had been made regarding Khaleda Zia’s current health condition.
Earlier in the morning, a four-member specialist medical team from the United Kingdom arrived and joined the hospital’s medical board. Prior to that, on Monday (1 December), a separate five-member high-level medical team from China had also reached Dhaka.
Khaleda Zia’s personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the medical board-consisting of specialists from both home and abroad-reported that she is showing signs of improvement under the current treatment, and there is hope she may recover this time.
