Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia has been spending time at her city residence without the company of any family member keeping herself almost aloof from politics amid the coronavirus pandemic with her son Tarique Rahman carrying out party activities.

The BNP chief has been staying at her residence ‘Firoza’ in Gulshan area of the capital since her release from jail on March 25 last and receiving treatment there.

Her sister Selina Islam and Nasrin Eskander, wife of her younger brother Shamim Eskander, regularly visit her at her residence.

“She (Khaleda Zia) needs to be taken abroad for better treatment but it won’t be right to take her abroad during this coronavirus pandemic as the Covid-19 situation in the UK and the US is currently not good. If the situation improves, we’ll consider the matter,” said Selina.

Asked whether they will apply to the government seeking permission to take her abroad, she said they will take the decision if the BNP chief gives her consent to this rend.

About Khaleda’s physical condition, Selina said there is no improvement in her condition as she has been suffering from pain in her legs caused from arthritis as well as her hands. “She also can’t move from her own.”

Her domestic help Fatema has been staying with her at the residence while nurses and physiotherapists have been providing necessary services round the clock and other necessary support staff are also there, she said.

Talking to the Daily Sun about Khaleda’s treatment, BNP Vice-chairman Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman has been supervising her treatment from London. “Zubaida Rahman is now coordinating the treatment of the BNP chief virtually while madam (Khaleda) also calls physicians when necessary,” he said.

Dr Zahid Hossain, also former secretary general of Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP physicians’ organisation, claimed that there is no change in the health condition of the BNP chairperson as her diabetes fluctuates and she is also suffering from other complications.

Family sources said Khaleda has been staying in her residence without the company of her family members as Tarique Rahman, acting BNP chairman, his wife and daughter and the widow and two daughters of her late son Arafat Rahman Rahman Koko have long been staying in London.

Khaleda Zia sometimes talks to them virtually, the sources said.

BNP leaders, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also meet her if she calls them, the party sources said.

Family sources said they want to take Khaleda to London so that she can stay with her family members and take better treatment but it is not possible due to the coronavirus prevalence.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Chatterton Dickson recently said their government would have no objection to granting visa to the BNP chairperson if she wants to go to the UK for treatment.

The party insiders said Khaleda Zia apparently remains out of politics as she is not allowed to carry out political activities or delivering any political statement as per the condition of her release from jail.

“Tarique Rahman has taken over the total responsibility of the party chief and he has been running the party activities, keeping his mother Khaleda Zia outside the politics currently,” a central BNP leader told the Daily Sun wishing not to be named.

Family and BNP sources said Khaleda Zia only gives necessary advices about party affairs sometimes.

The party insiders said it is highly likely that Khaleda Zia will not return to active politics given her current health condition but she will remain as the party chief until her death.

On March 25 last, the BNP chief was released from jail for six months upon an executive order considering her age and on humanitarian grounds following an application filed by her family.

The 76-year-old BNP chief, who had been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University since April 1 last year, returned to her residence after two years, one month and 16 days.

On September 3, the government extended her release by six more months from September 25 on conditions.

As per the conditions, Khaleda Zia can receive treatment in Dhaka but cannot go abroad during this period.

Khaleda was sent to jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.

The High Court later raised her punishment to 10 years in the case following an appeal filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The lower court also sentenced Khaleda to seven years’ imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case the same year though her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.