Khaleda to Remain in Isolation until Corona Situation Improves: Fakhrul

Although she completed her 14-day quarantine at her Gulshan residence,              BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was recently released from jail for six months, will remain in self-isolation until the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh improves.

"The whole country is effectively under a lockdown. In this case, she (Khaleda) needs to remain in quarantine for one hundred percent safety. She will remain free, "said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to reporters on Thursday.

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 problems.  “She has been given therapy to relieve 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 executive order considering her age and humanitarian ground.

The government passed an executive order for her release on two conditions—-receiving treatment in her home in Gulshan and not leaving the world.

Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Prison after she was sentenced to five years in jail by a special court in the corruption case of the Zia Orphanage Trust on 8 February 2018.

Source: UNB