Khaleda 'doing better' as she celebrates Eid with family in London

BNP chief Khaleda Zia's health has "improved" in London, where she is celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with her family for the first time in eight years.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: "By the grace of Allah, she (Khaleda) is doing better now in London. People in London are celebrating Eid today. She is celebrating Eid with her family after eight years. This is a good thing for us."

When asked about Khaleda's return to Bangladesh, Fakhrul said that, although nothing had been finalised, the BNP chairperson is expected to come back in mid-April.

Khaleda was flown to London on January 8 for better medical care.

Reflecting on her time in prison, Fakhrul said she developed liver cirrhosis while in jail, where she never received any medical treatment.

"We believe she was slowly poisoned in the jail. But if you ask her, she won't admit it. She's such a gem of a person. She won't say it even once."

Describing the condition of her cell, Fakhrul added: "The room was very damp. Plaster was falling off the walls and rats ran across the floor. I don't want to go into further detail as then we'd have to go through new tests."

‘SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES'

Khaleda's personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain, currently in London, said she was celebrating Eid with her loved ones.

He said, "People in London are celebrating Eid today [Sunday]. Madam has been staying with her eldest son [BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman]. She will spend Eid day at home with her family."

"Her two daughters-in-law [Dr Zobaida Rahman and Syeda Shamila Rahman] are there, along with her granddaughters [Zaima Rahman, Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman]. They arranged all the Eid festivities around her. This is because she is celebrating Eid with her loved ones after a long time. It's an emotional moment for them."

This is the third time Khaleda is celebrating Eid in London. Previously, in 2017, she went to London for medical treatment and celebrated Eid-ul-Azha at Tarique's house. Before that, during the political unrest in the wake of 1/11, she celebrated Eid with her family in London in 2015.

Dr Zahid confirmed that Khaleda is currently “much better” in terms of her health.

‘EID GREETINGS TO THE PEOPLE'

The former prime minister also extended her Eid greetings to the people of Bangladesh and leaders and activists of her party, said Prof Zahid.

"Acting Chairman Tarique also conveys his greetings," he told bdnews24.com.

On January 8, Khaleda flew to London on an air ambulance sent by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and was admitted to The London Clinic, a private healthcare organisation based in central London.

She received treatment under the supervision of liver specialist Prof John Patrick Kennedy for 17 days. The medical team overseeing her treatment then decided to send her to her son Tarique’s house and continue the treatment there under the supervision of Prof Kennedy and Prof Jennifer Cross. Khaleda, 79, has long suffered from multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, heart problems, arthritis, kidney complications, and diabetes.

On October 29, 2018, Khaleda was sentenced to prison for seven years and fined Tk 1 million in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. She was imprisoned at the Central Jail in Old Dhaka. The government released her through a special executive order during the coronavirus pandemic. During her imprisonment, Khaleda spent four Eid days in jail and Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

After the Sheikh Hasina government was toppled by the student-led mass movement on August 5, Khaleda Zia was released by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The court later quashed her jail sentences.