Dhaka, Dec 5: Family of former Bangladesh prime minister Khalida Zia, who remains in a critical condition here, is preparing to transfer her to London, where her son and BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman lives, media reports said Thursday.Zia, the 80-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, was admitted to a private hospital on November 23 when she developed a chest infection that affected both her heart and lungs.
Four days later, the three-time prime minister was shifted to the coronary care unit (CCU) after several of her health complications worsened.
BBC Bangla Service and Ittefaq newspaper said Ziaâs son and BNP’s self-exiled acting chairperson Tarique Rahmanâs wife Zubaida Rahman, a doctor herself, is expected to arrive in Dhaka soon to oversee the transfer of her ailing mother-in-law.
âAfter arriving in Bangladesh, Zubaida Rahman will take her to London (after) assessing Ziaâs physical condition,â at the Dhaka hospital, the BBC Bangla reported saying, several BNP leaders confirmed the decision without mentioning their names.
Qatar, meanwhile, said it is ready to provide an air ambulance for Zia for taking her to London even as two military and air force helicopters on Thursday staged landing tests at the rooftop of Dhakaâs Evercare Hospital, where she is admitted.
âIf madam’s (Zia) health is suitable for travel, we plan to take her to London tomorrow morning. It all depends on her health,â Ziaâs adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury told The Daily Star newspaper.
A four-member Chinese medical team, comprising doctors Chi Jiang Fang, Yan Xin, Zhong Yuhui, and Meng Huang Wu, arrived at the Evercare Hospital late on Wednesday night and met with the medical board to review treatment options for the BNP chairperson, the state-run BSS news agency reported.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met the specialists upon their arrival and discussed Zia’s treatment with them, according to news portal bdnews24.com.
The Chinese doctors joined a four-member UK specialist group led by Dr Richard Buell that had arrived earlier in the day to help chart an advanced treatment plan.
The team’s arrival marked the second batch of Chinese doctors, who had arrived earlier this week. A five-member advance team from China had arrived in Dhaka on December 1 to provide preliminary assistance.
Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday visited the hospital to enquire about Zia’s health, a day after the army, navy and air force chiefs visited her.