Tuesday, 02 December, 2025
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia—a towering and deeply symbolic figure in Bangladesh’s political history—remains under “special care” at Evercare Hospital as prayers, anxiety and heartfelt concern sweep through homes, streets and diaspora communities worldwide. She was moved to this advanced level of care after her condition deteriorated around 3:30am on Monday, triggering an outpouring of appeals for divine mercy from villagers in remote hamlets to leaders on the global stage.
Sources declined to provide further medical specifics but confirmed that foreign specialists have begun arriving in Dhaka, and that she may be flown abroad if her condition stabilises enough to permit medical evacuation. Her personal physician, members of her medical board and senior BNP leaders have avoided detailing her situation, underscoring the extreme sensitivity of her health.
The gravity of Khaleda Zia’s illness has gripped the nation. People from every walk of life continue to pray for the 79-year-old former prime minister, while a team of Chinese specialist doctors arrived in Dhaka on Monday night. The interim government has accorded her VVIP status, enabling deployment of the elite Special Security Force, and the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have expressed deep concern and offered all possible assistance.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged the public to ignore rumours, emphasising that she remains under intensive treatment. Speaking at a prayer gathering in Mohammadpur, he described Khaleda as “a beloved figure of the nation,” recalling her decades of sacrifice, including the loss of a son during imprisonment and enduring years of political persecution. “Despite conspiracies to force her from her homeland, she stood firm. Today, the whole nation prays for her,” he said.
BNP Vice-Chairman Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan earlier confirmed that she had been placed on ventilation support after a critical turn. The party has said that all official updates will be issued exclusively by Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain of the BNP National Standing Committee. It has also appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information.
The gravity of Khaleda Zia’s illness has gripped the nation. People from every walk of life continue to pray for the 79-year-old former prime minister, while a team of Chinese specialist doctors arrived in Dhaka on Monday night. The interim government has accorded her VVIP status, enabling deployment of the elite Special Security Force, and the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have expressed deep concern and offered all possible assistance.
The government’s VVIP declaration has tightened security around the hospital. SSF officers prepared to take positions on Monday night as authorities cleared the entire third floor where she is being treated. Senior doctors from the Combined Military Hospital were also present to assist.
The five-member Chinese medical delegation arrived with equipment, and further teams from China and Singapore are expected today. BNP sources say China has offered a fully equipped air ambulance to transport her to Beijing, while her family—particularly her son Tarique Rahman—prefers the United Kingdom. After reviewing her records, the Chinese specialists reportedly said “there is still work to be done to get her out of danger.” Their aircraft is expected to refuel en route, unlike the Qatari air ambulance that flew her directly to London earlier this year.
Emergency meetings of BNP’s top leadership continued late into the night as teams of local and foreign doctors conducted ongoing assessments. In a room adjacent to Khaleda Zia’s, Dr Zahid Hossain briefed the Standing Committee, chaired virtually by Tarique Rahman from London. Tarique is preparing to travel to Dhaka, with senior BNP sources indicating that the interim government is ready to issue either a one-time travel pass or a new passport. He may also receive SSF protection as her immediate family member.
If Khaleda is cleared for travel, Tarique may remain in London to receive her. He has lived in exile for 15 years, returning briefly to public visibility during her last medical trip earlier this year.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir earlier described her condition as “critical,” later escalating it to “extremely critical.” His statements prompted calls for nationwide prayers from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and leaders across the political spectrum, including Jamaat-e-Islami. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep concern. Modi wrote that he was “deeply concerned” and that India stands ready to extend assistance “in whatever way we can.”
Khaleda’s family remains hopeful as she receives care from a combined team of Bangladesh’s top physicians and foreign experts, including specialists from Johns Hopkins University and King’s College London. “If, by Allah’s boundless mercy, her condition stabilises, we will consider whether transferring her abroad is possible,” Fakhrul said.
Across Bangladesh—from rural mosques and village homes to major city centres, temples, churches and expatriate communities abroad—prayers continue as the country waits anxiously for the next update on Begum Khaleda Zia’s condition.
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BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia—a towering and deeply symbolic figure in Bangladesh’s political history—remains under “special care” at Evercare Hospital as prayers, anxiety and heartfelt concern sweep through homes, streets and diaspora communities worldwide. She was moved to this advanced level of care after her condition deteriorated around 3:30am on Monday, triggering an outpouring of appeals for divine mercy from villagers in remote hamlets to leaders on the global stage.
Sources declined to provide further medical specifics but confirmed that foreign specialists have begun arriving in Dhaka, and that she may be flown abroad if her condition stabilises enough to permit medical evacuation. Her personal physician, members of her medical board and senior BNP leaders have avoided detailing her situation, underscoring the extreme sensitivity of her health.
The gravity of Khaleda Zia’s illness has gripped the nation. People from every walk of life continue to pray for the 79-year-old former prime minister, while a team of Chinese specialist doctors arrived in Dhaka on Monday night. The interim government has accorded her VVIP status, enabling deployment of the elite Special Security Force, and the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have expressed deep concern and offered all possible assistance.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged the public to ignore rumours, emphasising that she remains under intensive treatment. Speaking at a prayer gathering in Mohammadpur, he described Khaleda as “a beloved figure of the nation,” recalling her decades of sacrifice, including the loss of a son during imprisonment and enduring years of political persecution. “Despite conspiracies to force her from her homeland, she stood firm. Today, the whole nation prays for her,” he said.
BNP Vice-Chairman Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan earlier confirmed that she had been placed on ventilation support after a critical turn. The party has said that all official updates will be issued exclusively by Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain of the BNP National Standing Committee. It has also appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information.
The gravity of Khaleda Zia’s illness has gripped the nation. People from every walk of life continue to pray for the 79-year-old former prime minister, while a team of Chinese specialist doctors arrived in Dhaka on Monday night. The interim government has accorded her VVIP status, enabling deployment of the elite Special Security Force, and the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have expressed deep concern and offered all possible assistance.
The government’s VVIP declaration has tightened security around the hospital. SSF officers prepared to take positions on Monday night as authorities cleared the entire third floor where she is being treated. Senior doctors from the Combined Military Hospital were also present to assist.
The five-member Chinese medical delegation arrived with equipment, and further teams from China and Singapore are expected today. BNP sources say China has offered a fully equipped air ambulance to transport her to Beijing, while her family—particularly her son Tarique Rahman—prefers the United Kingdom. After reviewing her records, the Chinese specialists reportedly said “there is still work to be done to get her out of danger.” Their aircraft is expected to refuel en route, unlike the Qatari air ambulance that flew her directly to London earlier this year.
Emergency meetings of BNP’s top leadership continued late into the night as teams of local and foreign doctors conducted ongoing assessments. In a room adjacent to Khaleda Zia’s, Dr Zahid Hossain briefed the Standing Committee, chaired virtually by Tarique Rahman from London. Tarique is preparing to travel to Dhaka, with senior BNP sources indicating that the interim government is ready to issue either a one-time travel pass or a new passport. He may also receive SSF protection as her immediate family member.
If Khaleda is cleared for travel, Tarique may remain in London to receive her. He has lived in exile for 15 years, returning briefly to public visibility during her last medical trip earlier this year.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir earlier described her condition as “critical,” later escalating it to “extremely critical.” His statements prompted calls for nationwide prayers from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and leaders across the political spectrum, including Jamaat-e-Islami. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep concern. Modi wrote that he was “deeply concerned” and that India stands ready to extend assistance “in whatever way we can.”
Khaleda’s family remains hopeful as she receives care from a combined team of Bangladesh’s top physicians and foreign experts, including specialists from Johns Hopkins University and King’s College London. “If, by Allah’s boundless mercy, her condition stabilises, we will consider whether transferring her abroad is possible,” Fakhrul said.
Across Bangladesh—from rural mosques and village homes to major city centres, temples, churches and expatriate communities abroad—prayers continue as the country waits anxiously for the next update on Begum Khaleda Zia’s condition.
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