Appeal for Khaleda’s treatment abroad to be sent to home ministry Sunday

The appeal of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's family for permission to take her abroad for medical treatment will be sent to the home ministry on Sunday with the law ministry's opinion.

"We will send the law ministry's opinion to the home ministry by Sunday morning," Law Minister Anisul Huq told the media on Saturday.  

Khaleda Zia's sister Selima Islam said, "If the government gives permission, Khaleda Zia will be taken to Singapore first by a chartered plane or an air ambulance as per the medical board's advice. Then she may be taken from there to the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia."

She said, "Khaleda Zia and her family's first choice is the United Kingdom. Diplomatic contacts are continuing with the two countries in this regard."

Khaleda Zia's younger brother Shamim Iskander took the application to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal's house in Dhanmondi on 5 May. Then it was sent to the Ministry of Law for their opinion. Senior Joint Secretary to Law and Justice Division Md Golam Sarwar took the application from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the law minister's residence in Banani on 6 May.

Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 test on 11 April as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and the report was positive again.

She was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on 27 April for a brief period for thorough health checkup, but continued to remain there as per the doctors' recommendation.

Later, she was shifted from the hospital cabin to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) due to shortness of breath.