Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to a hospital in the capital for a CT scan of her chest Thursday evening, six days after she had tested positive for COVID-19.

A car carrying Khaleda, also a former prime minister, entered Evercare Hospital along with two of the members of her personal staff at about 9:30pm, said her media wing members.

Khaleda left the hospital at around 10:30pm after her CT scan.

Khaleda was taken to the hospital from her Gulshan house hours after her medical team had suggested a CT scan to take decision about her treatment.

After visiting Khaleda at her Gulshan residence, Firoza, at about 4:30pm, Professor Dr SM Siddique, leader of the medical team, told reporters that the medical team treating Khaleda had decided to do a CT scan of her chest after her temperature had risen Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

‘After getting the CT scan report, a decision will be taken whether Khaleda Zia’s treatment will continue at home or in hospital,’ Siddique said.

He said that the blood report and other test reports of Khaleda were normal.

He said that her temperature rose to about 100°F Wednesday night and Thursday morning which is one of the symptoms of COVID-19.

He said that Khaleda passed seventh day of her infection while the second week for a COVID-19 patent is crucial.

He also said that her sugar was still under control and she continued to take physiotherapy for her arthritis.

‘Her oxygen saturation is normal. She is stable physically and mentally,’ Siddique said.

Replying to a question, he said that the necessary arrangements for the CT scan and further treatment of Khaleda had already been taken.

The Japanese ambassador and the Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh have sent letters to Khaleda wishing her early recovery, said a member of her team.

Japanese ambassador Ito Naoki sent his letter on Tuesday and Pakistan high commissioner Imran Ahmed Siddiqui sent his letter on Wednesday, BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told reporters, quoting Khaleda’s personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.

The BNP chairperson, now on conditional bail, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Khaleda has been staying at the Gulshan residence since she was released from jail by the government for six months on an executive order on March 25, 2020, after the emergence of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

She was initially jailed on February 8, 2018 for five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

On October 30, 2018, the High Court doubled her five-year jail term in the case.

Khaleda was released from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’s prison cell on March 25, 2020, suspending her conviction, on conditions that she would take medical treatment from home and would not leave the country.

The time of suspension of her conviction was extended for another six months on September 25, 2020.

The suspension of her conviction was extended for six more months for the third time on March 15, 2021 on the same conditions.

Khaleda was also sentenced to seven years in jail in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case on October 29, 2018.

She has been granted interim bail in all but the two cases related to Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust.

The BNP has termed all the cases against Khaleda as false and fabricated.