Khaleda gets pacemaker implanted

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has had a permanent pacemaker implanted at Evercare Hospital in the capital on Sunday (June 23).

A group of specialist doctors, led by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, successfully installed the pacemaker in Khaleda Zia's chest, said her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain.

"Alhamdulillah, we've completed the process of implanting the pacemaker in Madam's chest," Zahid told UNB around 7pm.

He said a permanent pacemaker was implanted in Khaleda's chest on the advice of the medical board formed for her treatment at the hospital.

Zahid said the BNP chief was kept under close observation in the CCU for the next 72 hours following the pacemaker implantation.

Later, he said, the medical board will make further decisions regarding her treatment.

He said the doctors initiated the process of installing the pacemaker at the hospital after taking Khaleda to a specially equipped room in the afternoon.
Zahid, also a BNP vice chairman, said Khaleda had previous heart issues involving blockages that were treated with stenting.

"After a thorough assessment, the medical board decided to implant the pacemaker in her heart," the physician said.

On behalf of BNP and Khaleda Zia's family, he requested the people of the country to pray for the speedy recovery of the former minister.

Since her conditional release from prison in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving medical care frequently at the hospital under the supervision of a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.

Khaleda's doctors have been advising sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.