Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will be taken abroad for advanced treatment soon. Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Personal Physician of Khaleda Zia, said, "She will initially be flown to the UK by a specialized air ambulance to her son Tarique Rahman. Then, she will be transferred to a 'multidisciplinary medical center' in a third country.
As part of the process, we are securing a 'long-distance specialized air ambulance' and establishing necessary communications. She will fly to London first. After a brief stopover, she will be taken to the country for multidisciplinary medical facilities. We hope to complete all the formalities soon so that Madam can travel abroad promptly, he added.
Further, Zahid said that Khaleda Zia's office has already informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding her treatment abroad, including details of the doctors, nurses, and relatives who will accompany her.
According to the source, Khaleda Zia may need a liver transplant. The UK has a few medical facilities that offer this service. They have already made contact with the specialists at those centers.
However, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has long battled various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes.
Cardiologist Prof. Shahabuddin Talukdar of Evercare Hospital leads the specialised medical board overseeing Khaleda Zia's treatment. Along with other specialized medical professionals from the US, UK, and Australia, the team also includes cardiologist Dr. Zubaida Rahman, the wife of BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman.