Medical board reformed, to examine Khaleda Monday

The medical board set up by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital for treatment of the jailed Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to examine her at her cabin at the hospital today.
Ailing Khaleda was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after languishing nine months at the old Dhaka Central Jail since February 8, when she was jailed for five years in a graft case.
Two doctors examined the former prime minister at the cabin on Sunday and they would brief the board about their findings, said a member of the board, adding that the board would then examine her clinically.
The medical broad, headed by internal medicine department chair at the university Abdul Jalil Chowdhury, engaged the two doctors to examine Khaleda as its could not meet her at the cabin on Sunday, hospital officials said.
The board, however, examined the medical documents of Khaleda on Sunday, when Khaleda’s personal cardiologist Mohammad Al Mamun was also present, said hospital director Brigadier General Abdullah Al Harun at a briefing.
‘We will sit tomorrow [Monday] to decide what she requires as we want to provide her the proper treatment,’ Abdul Jalil told New age said, adding, ‘we will examine her to decide what medicines she needs.’ 
The medical board might also go for laboratory tests specially to ascertain the condition of her liver and kidney to decide the doses for medication for her arthritis.
A delegation of BNP leaders led by its standing committee member Moudud Ahmed called on the hospital director and urged him to ensure Khaleda’s treatment in accordance with a High Court order, following which she was admitted to the hospital.
On October 4, the High Court asked the government, the university and the jail authorities to form a five-member medical board afresh keeping two members — Abdul Jalil Chowdhury and physical medicine associate professor Badrunnessa Ahmed. 
Three other members of the board would be selected immediately from amongst doctors at the university who never held any position in the executive committees of pro-Awami League physician platform Swadhinata Chikitshak Parisad and pro-BNP physician group Doctors Association of Bangladesh.
The other members of the committee were rheumatology professor Syed Atiqul Haq, clinical cardiology professor Sajal Krishna Banerjee and orthopaedic surgery professor Nakul Kumar Datta.
Pro-BNP doctors, however, alleged that most of the members of the board were ‘active supporters’ of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parisad and said that was why they were demanding Khaleda’s treatment at a private hospital.
Moudud Ahmed also alleged that two of the board members were members of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parisad.
The hospital director told New Age on Monday that board member cardiology professor Sajal Krishna Banerjee was replaced by his colleague Tanjima Parvin as he had to go to Barishal on Sunday.
Apart from 285 Ansar members, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police deployed one platoon cops on the ground and the fifth floor of the cabin block while members of different intelligence agencies were seen on duty at different points in and around the hospital.
Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge Abul Hasan said that security in and round the hospital was normal.
‘As she is in jail custody, police were deployed to ensure that none can gather over there,’ he added. 
A hospital official said that they had started preparing the cabin two days before Khaleda’s arrival and sealed off the door of east balcony visible from Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. 
‘We are not providing any food rather the jail authorities continue to give the food,’ the official said. 
Security officials said that a cabin beside Khaleda’s one was reserved for them for round-the-clock duty. 
‘We had prepared these rooms two weeks ago but process was cancelled later on,’ said another official at the hospital. 
The main entrance of the cabin block was seen closed for the second consecutive day and patients and their attendances were seen using a ramp at the building.
Ailing Khaleda appeared in the makeshift courtroom inside the jail in a wheelchair on September 5 and said she cannot appear before the court frequently as she was sick.
She also told the reporters that she was too sick to move even her hands. She had uncovered the left arm, which appeared bent and shaking.
The government wanted her to be admitted to either Combined Military Hospital or the university hospital while BNP demanded her treatment at a private hospital.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net