A pacemaker was implanted in BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s heart on Sunday while she was undergoing treatment at the Evercare hospital in Dhaka.

The BNP chief was taken to the cath lab from the hospital's CCU (Coronary Care Unit) in the evening. The medical board placed the pacemaker in her heart successfully.

The medical board formed for her treatment held a meeting on Saturday night and took the decision to place a pacemaker in her heart.

The BNP chairperson has been receiving treatment at the CCU since she was admitted to the hospital early Saturday.

The former premier was rushed to Evercare Hospital in an ambulance at around 3:30 am on Saturday as she suddenly fell ill at her residence, 'Feroza' in Gulshan.

She was quickly admitted to the CCU of the hospital, where her medical treatment began under the supervision of the medical board.

Khaleda Zia, aged 79, has long been battling various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes.

“Madam already had heart problems. A heart block was also diagnosed earlier and a stent (ring) was also placed there. According to the decision of the medical board after reviewing everything, a pacemaker has been implanted in his heart now,” Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, personal physician of the BNP chief told the Daily Sun.

A pacemaker is a small electronic device implanted in the chest to help control one’s heartbeat. It is used when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly due to a heart attack, heart failure, or another problem that has damaged the heart's natural electrical system.

Khaleda Zia is undergoing treatment under the medical board led by cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder.

The medical board members including Professor FM Siddiqui, Professor Shamsul Arefin, and Professor AQM Mohsin under the leadership of expert doctor Shahabuddin Talukder reviewed the latest health condition of the former prime minister in several rounds of meetings and decided to implant a pacemaker in her heart.

In these meetings of the medical board, Dr. Zubayeda Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London and some specialist doctors from the United States and Australia were connected virtually and gave important advice regarding her treatment.

On 11 June 2022, Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with multiple blockages in her heart at Evercare Hospital. One of these blockages was 95% blocked and was treated with stent placement at that time.