Khaleda needs better treatment: relatives say after meeting her

Family members who were allowed to meet jailed Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka on Friday afternoon said that the former prime minister was seriously ill and she needed better treatment on an emergency basis.

Six people, including Khaleda’s sister Selima Islam, younger brother Shamim Iskander, his wife Kaniz Fatima and his sons Avik Iskander and Arik Iskandar met ailing Khaleda at the BSMMU cabin block where she was undergoing treatment since April 1, BNP chairperson’s press wing member Shamsuddin Dider said.

He said that the family members met Khaleda between 3:15pm and 4:30pm.

After meeting Khaleda, her sister Selima Islam told reporters that her sister’s health condition has deteriorated and she could not stand up without help.

She said that Khaleda even could not take food without others’ help; and her hands and legs had become stiffer than that of earlier. ‘She needs better treatment on an emergency basis.’

Asked whether Khaleda Zia would take treatment abroad, she said that she could take treatment abroad if government allowed her. ‘Khaleda Zia, however, did not tell anything about it,’ she added.

Earlier on September 20, six family members met Khaleda at BSMMU for the last time.

Khaleda was in jail since February 8, 2018 when she was convicted by a Dhaka special court in a graft case that BNP terms false and fabricated.

She was admitted to BSMMU Hospital on April 1 and she had been undergoing treatment there since then.

The jail code allows relatives to meet a prisoner twice a month.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net