Former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, 80, has been admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and remains in intensive care after being taken there on November 23, party members said. Her personal physician, Dr A Z M Zahid Hossein, told reporters late Saturday that she was hospitalised with symptoms of a lung infection and that her condition has been “the same” for the past three days while she responds to treatment. He asked well‑wishers to pray for her continued recovery.
BNP secretary‑general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described her state earlier as “very critical.” Local reporting says Zia suffers from multiple chronic conditions — including heart disease, liver and kidney problems, diabetes, lung ailments, arthritis and eye issues — and that she has a permanent pacemaker and has previously undergone coronary stenting.
Supporters gathered outside Evercare, holding banners and praying for her recovery. Liton Molla, a 45‑year‑old driver who rushed to the hospital after hearing the news, told AFP he hopes she recovers and can contest the expected February 2026 election, saying, “At this moment, Bangladesh needs a leader like Khaleda Zia.”
BNP vice chairman Ahmed Azam Khan said an air ambulance was being kept on standby to fly Zia abroad for advanced care if her condition stabilises. Her eldest son, Tarique Rahman — who has lived in London since 2008 — thanked people for their prayers and urged continued support for his mother’s recovery.
Zia, a three‑time prime minister, was jailed in 2018 on corruption charges during Sheikh Hasina’s government and had previously been barred from travelling overseas for medical treatment. The report says she was released last year shortly after Hasina’s removal from office. Despite her ongoing health problems, Zia has said she intends to campaign in the elections expected next year, in which the BNP is widely seen as a leading contender.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus issued a statement calling Zia “a source of utmost inspiration for the nation” during the transitional period to democracy and saying her recovery is of great importance to the country.