Online Desk: Three specialist doctors from the United States, who were called in for the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as she is not allowed to travel abroad, have started treating the former prime minister at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

“They will meet with the medical board formed to examine Khaleda’s health and review various examinations and tests. Afterwards, they will work with the medical board to decide on the course of action,” said Dr AZM Zahid Hussain, Khaleda’s former physician.

Hamid Rabb, Christos Savvas Georgiades, and James Peter Hamilton, all well-regarded physicians from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, arrived in Dhaka from the US on Wednesday night. Georgiades and Hamilton went to Evercare immediately to see Khaleda.

Cardiologist Rafiqul Alam, who is an expatriate Bangladeshi with extensive medical experience in Britain, also arrived in Dhaka from the UK on Wednesday night.

The medical board said the BNP leader needs a TIPS procedure for her treatment. However, healthcare facilities in the country lack the expertise and equipment required to perform the procedure.

The board said that Khaleda’s life would be at risk if she was not transferred to an advanced medical facility abroad. As she is suffering from incurable liver cirrhosis, a transplant is necessary.

A team of 19 doctors led by Dr Shahabuddin Talukder of Evercare Hospital is monitoring her condition at all times.

The 78-year-old BNP chief was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Aug 9. She has been suffering from many health issues, including liver complications, kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, for a long time.

Khaleda, jailed for 17 years in connection with two graft cases, was released from prison through an executive order on Mar 25, 2020 that allowed her to stay at home, but barred her from travelling abroad.

The government says that, according to the law, she has to return to prison before she can petition to travel abroad.

On Sept 25, Khaleda’s family petitioned the home ministry to allow her to travel abroad to seek medical treatment. The law ministry turned down the application.