Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been suffering from several complications, including rheumatoid arthritis and out-of-control diabetes, said the five-member medical board, formed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for her better treatment, on Monday, reports the UNB.

Talking to reporters at the BSMMU director’s office around 2 pm, medical board chief Dr Abdul Jalil Chowdhury said, ‘Khaleda’s treatment depends on a lot of things. She has diabetes and other problems. Her main treatment will begin after bringing all of these under control.’

Describing rheumatoid arthritis as the main problem of the BNP chief, he said she has been suffering from the complication for the last 30 years and it is getting worse day by day. ‘Her left hand has already got curved which is called frozen shoulder. She has pain in hands, shoulder and left waist-joint. The overall condition of her arthritis problem is worse,’ he said.

Khaleda Zia has also been suffering from diabetes for the past two years, the medical board head said, adding that she caught fever recently and her sugar level was dropping. ‘She also has asthma problem which is not very severe,’ he said, adding that she needs to undergo several tests.

He said her main treatment will start after getting reports of the tests.

Dr Jali, however, could not exactly say how long it will take to begin the main treatment of Khaleda.

Other members of the medical board—Prof Syed Atiqul Haq of Rheumatology department and Assistant Professor of Cardiology department Tanzina Parvin—were also present at the press briefing.

Khaleda Zia was admitted to the BSMMU on Saturday afternoon after prison authorities shifted her there from old Dhaka Central jail for better treatment in compliance with a court order.

The High Court on Thursday directed the government to immediately admit Khaleda Zia to the BSMMU and form a five-member medical board afresh for her treatment.