Khaleda admitted to London Clinic
The former premier has been battling a series of serious health issues, including liver cirrhosis, heart disease, kidney problems, and complications arising from Covid-19
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been admitted to The London Clinic in central London under the supervision of Professor Patrik Kenedy.
BNP Media Cell member Sairul Kabir Khan informed the media on this citing Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, who is the personal physician of Khaleda.
The 79-year-old former premier, who left Dhaka on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar, reached London to receive advanced treatment at The London Clinic earlier in the day.
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The special air ambulance landed at Heathrow International Airport at 2:55pm.
There she was received by her son Tarique Rahman, also the acting chairman of BNP, Tariqu's wife Zubaida Rahman, Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom Hazrat Ali Khan and others.
The occasion marked the first meeting of Khaleda and Tarique, who have been living there in exile since 2008, in seven years. They last time met in London in July 2017 when the former premier visited the UK capital.
According to a Prothom Alo report, Tarique later drove Khaleda to The London Clinic, a private healthcare organisation based in central London.
Khaleda's doctors have been advocating for her treatment abroad ever since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021.
The former premier has been battling a series of other serious health issues, including heart disease, kidney problems, and complications arising from Covid-19.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (6 January), Dr Zahid said, "She underwent a TIPS procedure (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) for her liver condition, but certain technical adjustments are still required. Additionally, she has multiple heart blockages—only life-saving measures could be taken earlier due to her fragile condition. These blockages, along with her chronic kidney disease and post-COVID complications, now need comprehensive attention."
Dr Zahid expressed gratitude for the medical care Khaleda Zia has already received in Bangladesh, saying, "The team at Evercare Hospital did their utmost, and there is no dissatisfaction from the chairperson, her family, or the party. However, further evaluation and treatment in London will aim to address remaining issues."
Meanwhile, despite the severity of her condition, she was denied permission to travel for treatment by the Awami League government, citing legal hurdles related to her convictions in two cases.
However, on 6 August 2024, a day after the fall of the Awami League government, Khaleda was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin, paving the way for her overseas treatment.
