US President Biden made the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and called on other countries to follow suit
americas9 hours ago
Bangladesh doctors treating ailing opposition leader and ex-premier Khaleda Zia said they feared for her life if she was not allowed to fly abroad for medical care.
Zia, 76, arch-rival of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Her doctors said she suffered three massive internal bleedings in the past two weeks.
“We don’t have the means and supportive technology... here to control and stop rebleeding,” her chief doctor Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui told reporters at her home, flanked by four other doctors on her medical team.
He said there was a 50 per cent chance that Zia would suffer another internal bleeding in the next week, and a 70 per cent chance it would occur in the next six weeks.
“The chances of controlling the rebleeding are slim,” he said. “In that case, there is higher risk of her death.”
“If we want to save the life of the patient, we need to do TIPS,” he said, referring to a sophisticated medical procedure that he said was available only in developed countries such the United States, Britain and Germany.
Zia has been in the critical care unit of a Dhaka hospital since November 13, just five months after she recovered from Covid-19.
But the leader of the main opposition party has been barred by a court from leaving the country after being convicted on graft charges in 2018.
As her condition has worsened, activists and supporters of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have staged protests across the country, demanding she be allowed to travel abroad for treatment.
In the northern district of Natore, about 20 people were injured on November 22 when BNP activists clashed with police.
Hasina earlier this month appeared to reject Zia’s family and her party’s pleas.
“I have done whatever I can for Khaleda Zia. Now the law will decide the next course of action,” Hasina told a press briefing.
A minister also suggested that the BNP fly in doctors from abroad.
Zia was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2018 on graft charges that the BNP, which was last in power from 2001 to 2006, says were politically motivated.
She was released in March last year as her condition worsened in a jail where she was the only inmate. She has since been barred from flying abroad and has been receiving treatment from a local hospital.
Her doctors and party allege that Zia — who is suffering from heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes — was not treated properly when she was imprisoned.
US President Biden made the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and called on other countries to follow suit
americas9 hours ago
Labour market differential narrows to 12.6 from 15.9
economy9 hours ago
Sheikh Tamim addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly
gulf10 hours ago
Anca Mateiu shot two stunning rounds of 66, giving her a commanding seven-shot lead going into the final round
sports10 hours ago
They stressed the importance of preventing a wider escalation of the conflict, which threatens to further endanger peace and stability in the region
americas10 hours ago
Measures are aimed at preserving the integrity and sustainability of the nation's financial and economic system
business10 hours ago
With an election due in a year, German politicians are wary of potential job losses
finance10 hours ago
"I’ve had success on these courses before—it’s always great to return to familiar ground," says the Dubai Golden Visa recipient
sports10 hours ago