BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, will not be flown to London for the time being, as her condition has not stabilized enough to endure air travel.
A member of her medical board, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB on Monday that her recovery remains inconsistent.
“Whenever one complication improves, another appears. While one health parameter is under control, another rises,” the doctor said.
He noted that although her long-standing liver complications are being managed, concerns over her kidney condition have intensified.
“Our medical team has decided not to send her abroad until her condition improves further,” he said.
Khaleda Zia, 80, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) four days later after her condition worsened.
She is being treated under the supervision of a medical board led by cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, which includes specialists from Bangladesh, the UK, USA and China.
The former prime minister has long suffered from multiple chronic conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, lung and heart complications, and ophthalmological issues.
At present, about two dozen specialists convene daily at Evercare to review her condition and adjust treatment.
Another board member said while her condition has not deteriorated further, she remains at risk.
“Advanced care is being provided in the CCU. Each night, the board reviews her status. Specialists discuss individual complications, adjust medications, change doses, or stop and restart medicines as necessary.”
He said Dr Zubaida Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s daughter-in-law and wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, attends the medical board meetings in person.
Meals for Khaleda are prepared at her Gulshan residence and sent to the hospital daily as per medical advice.
Meanwhile, the special air ambulance arranged by the emir of Qatar to fly Khaleda Zia to London will not arrive on Tuesday either.
Germany-based FAI Aviation Group, which was supposed to send the replacement aircraft, has formally requested withdrawal of its approved landing slot at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
A senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that the operator asked to cancel the previously granted clearance.
CAAB had earlier approved Tuesday morning as the landing time.
The BNP initially planned to fly Khaleda to London on Friday for advanced treatment using a Qatar Royal Air Ambulance.
The flight was first delayed last week due to what officials described as a “technical issue.”
The Qatari embassy later informed BNP that the emir’s designated ambulance would not be dispatched and that a German replacement aircraft would be provided instead.
As of Monday night, BNP has not confirmed when the new air ambulance will arrive or when Khaleda Zia might be flown abroad.
