The medical board formed for the treatment of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda sees no necessity to send the former premier abroad for treatment. “There is no necessity to send the BNP chairperson abroad for treatment at the moment,” said Prof. Dr Md Shamsuzzaman Shaheen, head of the four-member medical board yesterday (Sunday). Meanwhile, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) sent the former PM’s test report to the jail authorities yesterday (Sunday).

Prof. Shaheen, also the head of the orthopaedic department of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said they are yet to receive the report of the tests conducted at BSMMU and they would take the next steps in respect of Khaleda Zia after receiving it. He said her health condition is apparently not serious and it primarily seems that her treatment would be possible at home.

The head of the medical board formed for the BNP chief's treatment added that they have heard that the jail authorities have received the test report. “They may contact us tomorrow (Monday). If they contact us we will see the report,”

he said. Earlier, on Saturday, Khaleda was taken to the BSMMU from the Old Central Jail at Nazimuddin Road, where she underwent some X-ray tests of her spine, hip joint and pelvis. Her blood sample was also taken for tests.

BSMMU vice-chancellor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua told reporters that they sent the X-ray and blood reports of Khaleda to the jail authorities.

BSMMU director Brig. Gen. Md Abdullah-Al-Harun told yesterday that she seemed to be

in good health. However, the actual condition of her health would be

known after the test results are received today (Monday).

Meanwhile, the BNP chairperson has been shown arrested in the Cumilla arson attack case as the court has issued a protection warrant against her. The court fixed April 10 for the next hearing of the case.

Earlier, a Cumilla court issued an arrest warrant for Khaleda and 48 others in a murder case filed over the 2015 arson attack on a bus in Chouddagram upazila of Cumilla.

In another development, Khaleda Zia’s lawyers sought permission to meet her to discuss legal matters with her.

Sources in the home ministry said the BNP chairperson’s private secretary, ABM Abdus Sattar, sent a list of eight lawyers of the former premier seeking permission for them to meet her.

Advocate Sanaullah Miah, one of her counsel, said they need to

meet the BNP chairperson to discuss legal matters with her.

Replying to a question, he said they would appear before the Cumilla court on April 10 and seek bail for the BNP chairperson.

Khaleda fell ill in jail on March 29 and postponed a scheduled meeting with BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Earlier, a four-member medical board, comprising four professors of DMCH, was formed for the BNP chief’s treatment. The board examined her in the jail on April 1.

Khaleda was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a Dhaka court in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.