Khaleda Zia on ventilator with special security; UK team rushed, son thanks PM Modi for support

Khaleda Zia’s condition worsens: UK doctors arrive, special security in place; son grateful to PM Modi

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has been placed under special security cover as her health condition remains extremely critical. Bangladesh’s elite Special Security Force (SSF) has been deployed to protect the 80-year-old leader, who is currently on ventilator support at a private hospital in Dhaka.

A specialised medical team from the United Kingdom is being flown in to monitor her treatment, while her doctors say she is showing some response. The option of shifting her abroad for further medical care is being evaluated by the medical board, depending on her clinical condition.

Khaleda Zia, a three-time Prime Minister and the country’s first woman to hold the post, was admitted on November 23 after serious infections affecting her heart and lungs. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to her transfer to the coronary care unit and placement on ventilation.

Her political history includes leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), championing the transition to parliamentary democracy, and a longstanding rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina. She has faced multiple corruption cases and was imprisoned from 2018 to 2020 before being released on health grounds. Her sentence was formally suspended in 2024 after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over whether the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus will facilitate the return of her son and BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, who has been living abroad. Critics say the government appears reluctant.

Bangladesh daily Prothom Alo quoted Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain as saying Tarique Rahman has not applied for a “travel pass” to return to the country and that the foreign ministry has “no specific information” on his return.

Tarique Rahman, son of Khaleda Zia, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer to "extend all possible support".

Rahman, in a message explaining his absence, said, “In this critical time, I, like any child, have an intense desire to receive my mother’s affectionate touch. However, like everyone else, the ability to realise this is neither unreservedly under my sole decision-making authority nor my exclusive control.”

Amid global concern, Rahman also thanked world leaders for their support, including PM Modi. In a statement on X, he wrote that the messages received have been a “source of immense strength” and expressed gratitude for the “unity, compassion, and solidarity shown during this difficult moment.”

The BNP publicly acknowledged the Indian Prime Minister’s message, stating, “BNP expresses its sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, for his thoughtful message and kind wishes for the speedy recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.”