Khaleda Zia's liver transplant depends on medical test reports: Dr Zahid

The medical board formed for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's treatment at the London Clinic, UK will take decision on her liver transplant following her medical test reports in the next days, said her personal physician Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.

"Madam's (Khaleda Zia) medical tests for major complications will continue today (15 January), tomorrow (16 January) and the day after tomorrow (17 January). The doctors will try to make a plan for her next course of treatment depending on medical reports," he said while briefing journalists in front of London Clinic on yesterday (14 January).

Replying to a question about the liver transplant issue, he said, "Yes, it is kept in mind. But everything depends on medical reports and her fitness as she is 79-year old now."

Dr Zahid said many medical tests are being carried out since she was admitted to prestigious London Clinic under the supervision of renowned liver specialist Prof John Patrick Kennedy.

Besides, six/ seven specialist physicians at the hospital, including Dr Jennifer Cross, Dr John Goldstone and Satya Bhattacharya, are in the medical board along with physicians from Bangladesh, he said.

He also said Begum Zia was tested coronavirus (Covid-19) positive on 10 April 2021 and since then she had to be admitted to Dhaka's Evercare Hospital for 15 occasions and she stayed at the hospital for 422 days with various complications.

"We treated her by forming a large medical board comprising physicians from prestigious John Hopkins Hospital, other physicians from New York, Australia and Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman, and other Bangladeshi physicians," said Dr Zahid.

"Foreign physicians both from John Hopkins and here now at London Clinic appreciated the treatment provided to her at the Evercare Hospital as they said 'You did a wonderful job, excellent job'," he said.

"Local physicians treated her amid various limitations as before 5 August the political situation was not favourable at all," he said.

Dr Zahid, also a BNP standing committee member, said the physicians have brought some necessary changes in providing her the most modern treatment on the basis of test reports in the last couple of days.

Providing details about the ongoing treatment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, her personal physician said that the physicians from various fields including nephrology, hepatology and liver transplantation are examining her every day.

He said after receiving all the test reports of Begum Khaleda Zia, if necessary, specialist physicians from Johns Hopkins Hospital, US will come to London as they were in constant contact with the medical board treating Begum Zia at London Clinic.

"Once she gets the discharge certificate from the hospital, she will go directly to her eldest son, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's residence. She will stay there for some days," he said.

UK BNP President MA Malek and Begum Zia's entourage members were present at the time.

Earlier on Monday (13 January), Dr. Zahid said it might take time until next Friday to get all the medical reports of Begum Zia.

"It is expected that the doctors will be able to make a plan for her further treatment by next Friday," he said.

Meanwhile in a press conference in Dhaka, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the BNP chief is much better than before as her health condition is improving.

On 8 January, three-time ex-prime minister Begum Zia was admitted to prestigious London Clinic.

She was taken to London by a special air ambulance equipped with state-of-the-art health services on 7 January.

From Heathrow International Airport, London, she was taken directly to London Clinic. Her eldest son, BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, drove his mother to the hospital. Tarique Rahman's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman was also with them.

She is feeling happy mentally and physically getting her near and dear ones beside her after long. Her younger son late Arafat Rahman's wife Syeda Shamila Rahman, granddaughters Barrister Zaima Rahman and Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman are taking care of her at the hospital.

Her family members are bringing homemade food for her at the hospital. Morning and afternoon snacks are also being served from home. Her son Tarique Rahman is going to the hospital carrying foods himself.

BNP chief's personal physician and party's standing committee member Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Begum Khaleda Zia's entourage, member of the medical team Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury and UK BNP leaders conveyed this information to local journalists in London and to journalists in Dhaka through the BNP media cell at different times.

The 79-year-old former premier has been suffering from various ailments for long. Her illness worsened after she was convicted in a case in 2018 and sent to prison. She was, however, acquitted from the charges by the apex court. In the meantime, her physical condition became very critical several times. She had to undergo treatment for a long time at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.