Bangladesh’s Khaleda Zia hospitalised in ‘very critical’ condition

Members of her party have called on well-wishers to pray for the Bangladeshi former prime minister’s speedy recovery as she is being taken to a hospital in “very critical” condition.

Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossein, Zia’s personal physician, revealed late on Saturday that the 80-year-old politician is still receiving care at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

She was reportedly responding to treatment because of her lung infection, according to Hossein.

“She has been in the same state for the past three days,” I can say at this time. He was quoted by the Daily Star news website as saying, “She is responding to the treatment,” in the language of doctors.

“Please pray that this treatment will continue to be given to her.”

Hossein made the comments a day after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party’s secretary-general, described her “very critical condition.”

Zia has “heart problems, liver and kidney issues, diabetes, lung problems, arthritis, and eye-related illnesses,” according to the Daily Star.

According to the outlet, she has a permanent pacemaker and previously had her heart stented.

An air ambulance was on standby for Zia’s advanced treatment if her medical condition stabilized earlier on Saturday, according to BNP vice chairman Ahmed Azam Khan.

Tarique Rahman, Zia’s eldest son, has been residing in London since 2008, and has pleaded with Bangladeshis to support his mother’s recovery.

In a social media post on Saturday, Rahman, 60, wrote, “We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all your prayers and love for the highly regarded Begum Khaleda Zia.”

We sincerely ask that you pray for her quick recovery.

Under the recently ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, Zia, who served three terms as prime minister, was prohibited from traveling abroad for medical treatment.

She was let go shortly after Hasina’s removal.

Zia has promised to run in elections scheduled for February 2026, in which the BNP is widely regarded as the frontrunner despite her ill health.

Liton Molla, a private company driver who has been waiting in front of the hospital since morning, said he had been informed of Zia’s condition and that he had rushed there. She was given the title “dear leader.”

Liton, 45, told the AFP news agency, “I just pray she recovers and can contest in the election.”

Bangladesh currently requires a leader like Khaleda Zia.

Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh, also made a statement.