Khaleda undergoes biopsy test, in post operative ICU
Top party leader says the BNP chairperson is out of danger and there is nothing to be worried about
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia underwent a biopsy test on Monday and was at a post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
"She is out of danger," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the afternoon.
The BNP chairperson had talked to her brother Shamim Eskander, son Tarique Rahman via online and daughter-in-law Sharmila Rahman at the hospital.
Amid speculations over the health of the 76-year-old top BNP leader, Mirza Fakhrul flanked by Khaleda Zia's personal physician and BNP leader Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain appeared before a press conference at BNP party office in Dhaka's Gulshan on Monday afternoon.
On the biopsy, Dr Zahid said, "She has a lump on her body. The biopsy test was performed at the operation theatre to spot the nature of it."
A biopsy is a part of a medical diagnosis that involves collection of tissue from any part of the body to examine it for disease. Some may collect a small tissue sample with a needle while others may surgically remove a suspicious nodule or lump.
Dr Zahid said Khaleda Zia's lump size is nearly 1.2 centimetres. Referring to patient privacy, he, however, did not tell journalists exactly where the BNP chairperson had developed the lump.
"Her post-biopsy parameters are stable as she is now in a surgical ICU [intensive care unit]," said the doctor. Surgical ICU is a multispecialty medical care centre for patients who require surgery or are recovering from surgery.
While replying to a query, the physician said their next course of action over Khaleda's treatment would be determined according to the biopsy report that would come out in 15-21 days.
At the press briefing, Mirza Fakhrul discarded media reports suggesting Khaleda Zia was very sick.
Fakhrul said, "Her doctors believe there are no issues to be worried about."
"Rest assured that the former prime minister is completely alright. Two of her doctors confirmed to me that she is fine," said Fakhrul.
On 12 October, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital. She has been undergoing treatment under a medical board led by Professor Dr Shahabuddin Talukder.
After being convicted in a graft case, the former prime minister landed in jail in February 2018. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the government granted her temporary release on conditions on 25 March last year at the request of her family.
Her family and BNP have been vocal since then to allow Khaleda to avail treatment abroad. But the government says she cannot leave the country as per the conditions of the temporary release.
The BNP chief has been suffering from arthritis, diabetes and several eye issues for many years. She got infected with coronavirus in April this year while staying at her Gulshan residence.
On 27 April, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital owing to post-Covid complications. She then had been in the critical care unit (CCU) for about two months.
In the third week of June, she was discharged, and then got admitted to the hospital again after around four months.