BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was recently released from jail for six months, will remain in self-isolation until the coronavirus situation improves in Bangladesh.
“The entire country has been apparently under a lockdown. In this situation, she (Khaleda) needs to stay in quarantine for 100 per cent safety. She’ll remain safe there,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters on Thursday, reports UNB.
The BNP leader said Khaleda will be there in the quarantine at her Gulshan house until the country gets rid of the coronavirus. “We’ll take the next steps regarding her treatment and other issues when the situation gets normal.”
About the BNP chief’s health condition, he said she is very sick and her condition hasn’t improved that much yet. “One of our main demands was to send her aboard for treatment. Unfortunately, they (govt) have said she can’t leave the country.”
Fakhrul said all the specialist doctors are now not able to provide her the necessary healthcare services due to the current situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak. “But her personal doctors are providing treatment to her as much as they can. We hope she’ll stay well with this treatment.’”
Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP chairperson’s personal physician team, said, “ Madam’s (Khaleda’s) 14-day quarantine completed today (Thursday). Her family members now can meet her maintaining social distancing though she’ll remain in self-isolation. “
He said the BNP chief has been suffering from severe pain in the joints of her hands and legs due to arthritis problem. “She has been given therapy to relive her pains. Her diabetic condition still hasn’t come under control. She has some other physical problems for which she needs treatment for a long-time.”
On March 25 last, Khaleda was released from jail for six months upon an execute order considering her age and humanitarian ground.
The government passed the executive order for her release on two conditions -- receiving treatment staying at her Gulshan residence and not leaving the country.
Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she had been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.