United News of Bangladesh

The interim government on Thursday (December 04, 2025) called for special prayers across the country seeking the speedy recovery of the former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Muslims have been requested to offer dua after Juma prayers on Friday (December 05, 2025) at all mosques while temples, churches and pagodas have been asked to hold prayers following respective religious traditions, according to a Facebook post shared by Chief Adviser's press wing. Read more: Govt declares Khaleda Zia a ‘very very important person’ People of all walks of life have also been urged to pray individually for her recovery. Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday night visited her at the hospital. Severe medical teams from the UK and China have arrived in Bangladesh to join the BNP’s chairperson treatment. Read more: Prof Yunus visits Evercare Hospital to enquire about Khaleda’s health

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus visited the Evercare Hospital in the city Wednesday evening (December 03, 2025) to see three-time former Prime Minister, former President’s wife and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. He spent around 30 minutes at the hospital after 7pm and enquired about her health condition, a senior official at the Chief Adviser’s Office told UNB. Read more: Army, BAF helicopters to conduct trial landing, takeoff near Evercare Hospital Prof Yunus urged Khaleda Zia's family and party leaders and activists to be patient, and reiterated the government's assurance of all kinds of cooperation. The Chief Adviser called on the people of the country to pray for Khaleda Zia's speedy recovery. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman accompanied the Chief Adviser during the visit.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is receiving her prescribed treatment properly and is expected to recover, her personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said on Tuesday (December 02, 2025). “We firmly believe she will recover this time and return to us. She is properly receiving the treatment being administered to her,” he said. Talking to reporters during a briefing in front of Evercare Hospital at noon, Dr Zahid said Khaleda Zia is responding to the treatment provided by a medical board comprising local and foreign specialists. Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 with several health complications. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the CCU on November 27, where she remains under close observations. Tarique expresses gratitude, reiterates call for prayers for Khaleda “A medical board consisting of doctors from the UK, USA and Bangladesh is overseeing her treatment. Tarique Rahman is constantly monitoring the situation, and the interim government continues to extend its support,” Zahid added. He urged the nation to pray for Khaleda Zia’s recovery and avoid paying heed to any rumours. “Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and I will continue to update you on her condition,” he said. Dr Zahid also informed that a specialist medical team from the UK will arrive today (Tuesday) to assist in her treatment. Decisions regarding whether she will be taken abroad for treatment depend entirely on the medical board, he added. Tarique Rahman likely to return home soon: Salahuddin Meanwhile, the main team of Chinese specialist physicians is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today (Tuesday) to oversee the treatment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. A preliminary delegation of Chinese doctors visited Evercare Hospital on Monday (Dec 1), ahead of the full team’s arrival.  

The health condition of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, has not shown any significant improvement, according to her medical board members and senior party leaders. Doctors say the former prime minister is still suffering from pneumonia, which has caused infections in both her heart and lungs. They said they are trying their utmost to bring the infections under control. A member of the medical board, wishing to remain unnamed, said excess fluid has built up in her body, requiring regular dialysis. Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt She is also being given the oxygen support needed to help her breathe more comfortably. Despite her critical condition, he said Khaleda Zia remains responsive, can move her hands and feet slightly, and is able to speak a few words at times. BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon said their party chairperson’s condition is stable, with no marked improvement or deterioration. “I went to the fourth floor of the hospital and spoke to her doctors. They told me it is still not possible to say when her condition might improve, but they remain hopeful. They said they are trying their best, and she may improve — now we just have to wait and see,” he told reporters after meeting the medical team. BNP leaders and family members said if her condition improves, she may again be taken abroad for advanced treatment. Preparations have already begun, though BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday evening that she is still not medically fit to travel. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said the medical board treating Khaleda Zia believes she may need treatment abroad, but her present condition does not allow travel. He said distinguished doctors from Bangladesh, as well as specialist physicians from Johns Hopkins in the United States and the London Clinic in the UK, are overseeing her treatment. The full medical board held a detailed meeting for nearly two and a half hours on Friday night. “They discussed her treatment in depth and shared their views on the next steps. The board said she may need to be taken abroad, but in her current condition it is not possible. She is not fit for overseas travel right now,” Fakhrul said. Once her condition stabilises, he said the medical board will consider whether she can travel abroad. Read more: Khaleda may be taken to London for treatment, says Mahdi Amin Fakhrul also said preparations for possible overseas treatment are already underway. “Visa procedures, communication with countries where treatment may be possible, and other formalities have been discussed. These preparations are progressing so that, if the need arises and she becomes fit to fly, a quick decision can be made,” he said. Khaleda Zia has been under intensive monitoring since she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on 23 November with severe infections in her heart and lungs. She was first kept in a cabin but was later moved to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) as her condition worsened. Members of the medical board have been working round the clock, closely observing her vital signs. Another medical board member told UNB that the BNP Chairperson’s condition remains complicated. “She is on dialysis due to excess fluid in her body. The main reason is that her mitral valve has become stiff, preventing the heart from pumping blood properly. Some blood is leaking back through the valve, which raises the risk of right-side heart failure,” he said. He also said a severe infection has put her body under extreme stress, while acute pancreatitis has further worsened her condition. BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said both local and foreign doctors are providing all necessary treatment. “Specialist doctors from abroad are also involved. Whatever treatment she needs is being given,” he said. No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt Mahdi Amin, adviser to BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that the Zia family is planning to take Khaleda Zia to London for advanced treatment once her condition improves even slightly. He said Tarique Rahman and his wife have already contacted the London hospital and the specialist doctors under whose care she stayed for four months earlier this year, when she showed significant improvement. “Arrangements are being made to organise a specially equipped, state-of-the-art air ambulance for that purpose,” Mahdi wrote. Khaleda’s former press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan also wrote on Facebook that her condition has not improved noticeably. He said the family is considering taking her to London, Singapore or even China, depending on the medical board’s approval. Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who visited the hospital on Saturday, said preparations are underway to take her to Singapore or Europe, but she is “not in a condition to fly yet”. As large numbers of people have continued gathering around the hospital, Mirza Fakhrul and other senior BNP leaders have urged the public not to crowd the area. They said the overwhelming number of visitors has made hospital staff and doctors uneasy, affecting the treatment of Khaleda Zia as well as other patients. Read more: Khaleda may need treatment abroad, but not fit for travel: Fakhrul Apart from BNP leaders, several other political party leaders also visited Evercare Hospital on Saturday to inquire about her health. Among them were Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, NCP Senior Joint Member-Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah. Speaking to reporters, they urged the people of the country to pray for Khaleda Zia’s speedy recovery. Hasnat Abdullah blamed the former prime minister’s declining health on inadequate medical care during her imprisonment.  He alleged that she had been denied proper treatment in jail, which led to the gradual deterioration of her condition. He said people across the country, irrespective of political views, were praying for her recovery. Meanwhile, prayers continue nationwide for the former prime minister’s health. Since Friday, people from different walks of life have been posting on social media expressing deep concern and seeking divine blessings for her quick healing. Read more: Khaleda responding to treatment: Dr Zahid

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (November 29) said the medical board treating party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has observed that she may need treatment abroad, but her current condition is not suitable for travel. “As you all know, our country’s undisputed leader, the Mother of Democracy, Begum Khaleda Zia, has been seriously ill and admitted to Evercare Hospital for several days. Her condition is quite critical,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said distinguished doctors from Bangladesh, as well as specialist physicians from Johns Hopkins in the United States and the London Clinic in the UK, are overseeing her treatment. “Last night, the full medical board held a meeting for nearly two and a half hours. They discussed her treatment in detail and shared their opinions on how her care should proceed and what type of treatment she now requires. The medical board has said that she may need to be taken abroad, but in her current physical condition, it is not possible to move her. She is not fit for overseas travel right now,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Khaleda’s health still fragile, doctors report no improvement Once her condition stabilises, he said the medical board will consider whether she can be taken abroad. Fakhrul also mentioned that preparations for possible overseas treatment of the BNP chief are already underway. “Visa matters, communication with countries where treatment might be possible, and other formalities have been discussed in detail. These preparations are progressing. So, if the need arises and she becomes ready to fly, a quick decision can be made,” he said. The press conference was held to announce the BNP’s torch-roadshow programme for Victory Month. During the event, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also responded to questions from journalists about why acting chairman Tarique Rahman has not returned to the country while his mother’s condition remains critical. He said Tarique Rahman has already made a Facebook post on the matter and that the post should be taken as self-explanatory. “There is no need for me to answer this, as he himself has made a post on Facebook,” Fakhrul said. When reporters pressed further, he added, “I cannot explain this, because he is the party’s acting chairman, my leader, and the head of the party. He has made a post, and you can take that post as his statement. No further explanation is needed at this moment.” Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt In his Facebook post today, Tarique Rahman said that his return to the country is not entirely under his control. As many people have continued gathering around the hospital, BNP leaders again urged people from all walks of life not to crowd the area. “Naturally, Begum Khaleda Zia is the most popular leader in this country, and people are deeply worried about her illness. Large numbers of people are gathering at the hospital out of concern for her, but this is making the hospital authorities and the doctors very embarrassed.” He said the overwhelming number of visitors has made hospital staff and doctors uneasy, affecting the treatment of Khaleda Zia as well as other patients. “I sincerely request everyone not to gather at the hospital. I urge BNP leaders and activists, her well-wishers, and people across the country — please do not crowd the hospital,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Khaleda may be taken to London for treatment, says Mahdi Amin He said they will inform the public about her health condition through regular bulletins. “You will receive all updates in time. But once again, I request you all: please do not go there.” Leaders and activists from various BNP units have continued gathering at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka to enquire about the health of party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.  Despite the party’s request not to hold large gatherings, supporters continue to gather in the hospital area. The large number of visitors has caused traffic congestion nearby, and journalists covering the scene are also facing difficulties. Hospital authorities and law enforcement are monitoring the situation, but the crowd shows no sign of easing. BNP leaders and activists said they came to learn the latest updates about the condition of their beloved leader, who has been fighting for her life at the hospital. Earlier in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged party leaders, activists and the general public to refrain from gathering at Evercare Hospital, warning that large crowds are hampering the treatment of Begum Khaleda Zia and causing inconvenience to other patients. He also called upon everyone to pray for the BNP chairperson’s quick recovery. Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She is also suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), being treated by specialist doctors from both home and abroad. Read more: Khaleda responding to treatment: Dr Zahid

The medical board at Evercare Hospital on Monday recommended that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia be urgently sent to a multidisciplinary center abroad soon as there are now no treatment options available for her in Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference at the hospital, the board also said the 78-year-old former prime minister’s life is at risk because of a lack of proper treatment to stop water accretion in her stomach and chest, internal bleeding and infections caused by her liver cirrhosis problem. “Begum Khaleda Zia has been admitted here for the fourth time…her condition is complicated,” the chief of the medical board, Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, said. Read: Khaleda’s doctors to hold press conference on ex-PM's condition Monday He said a critical patient like Khaleda could collapse suddenly as she has been suffering from various diseases.  “Madam (Khaleda) has heart disease with a stent (placed into a coronary artery) and two blockages. So, there’s a chance of collapsing when the fluid is removed (from her stomach and lungs). She had to be taken to the CCU to get the water out. This is the reality,” he said. Dr FM Siddique, a member of the medical board, said the BNP chairperson is not getting the treatment she needs at the moment for liver cirrhosis. He said, “We’ve done all that we can. She needs to be taken to any advanced centre abroad  for necessary treatment.” Siddique said the opposition BNP chief’s condition is gradually worsening because of a lack of “proper treatment.” Read: No politics behind denying permission for Khaleda’s treatment abroad: Law Minister He said Khaleda is now facing water accretion in her stomach and chest, infections, and a small amount of bleeding in her stomach. “This time she was given four bags of blood in the hospital. The actual situation is very complex and difficult. We have now reached a situation where we have no more option to treat her (in the country),” the physician said. He lamented that a curable disease cannot be treated in the country due to lack of an advanced medical centre in Bangladesh. Siddique said though Khaleda’s condition is slowly getting worse, the time is not over yet to treat her abroad. “As per the medical board’s unanimous decision, I want to convey to all concerned that there’s still time to treat her with the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and also to transplant her liver at any advanced multidisciplinary center abroad. Perhaps, we still have this option to improve her condition,” the doctor said. He said TIPS is necessary immediately to stop water from accumulating in her stomach and chest and internal bleeding. “TIPS is a live savings procedure which is not available in Bangladesh. Liver transplantation is also not possible in Bangladesh either." Another medical board member Professor AKM Mohsin said liver transplantation cannot be done in Bangladesh for lack of required setup, equipment, and manpower. “One or two livers were transplanted here (Bangladesh) on an experimental basis. But we don't have the setup and required manpower for liver transplantation here. We don't have such surgery here," he said. Mentioning that Khaleda Zia's condition is critical, Prof Mohsin said there is no setup in Bangladesh for her treatment with TRIPS and for her liver transplantation. Professor Nuruddin Ahmed, another medical board member said the BNP chief has been suffering from many diseases, including liver cirrhosis. “Liver cirrhosis causes many serious complications such as abdominal bleeding and water accretion in her stomach and chest.” He said infection caused by ascites is also a serious complication that put Khaleda’s life at risk. Ahmed voiced concern that high doses of antibiotics are not working on Khaleda due to their frequent use.  "In his critical condition, we are not allowing her to be taken home as carious complications and infections are appearing.” BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka under the supervision of a 15-member medical board, led by a specialist doctor, Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, since August 9. She has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems. On September 5, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskandar submitted an application to the government, seeking her unconditional release and permission to take her abroad for treatment at an “advanced medical center” on an urgent basis to save her life. However, the law ministry denied permission to take her abroad for better treatment, suggesting that she must first return to jail to serve her graft sentence and then apply to the court to get permission in this regard. Law Minister Anisul Huq said there is no chance to open the petition, which has already been disposed of as per Section 401 of the CrPC. “We gave the opinion that the petition disposed under Section 401 is a past and closed transaction. There is no other scope to open it,” he said. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Later, the government extended the tenure of suspension of Khaleda’s sentence for the eighth time.

The Law Ministry has rejected an application seeking permission for sending BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. The Law Ministry gave this opinion upon receiving an application sent by the Home Ministry in response to the request of the family of the former prime minister, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq told reporters at the secretariat on Sunday. Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday (September 30, 2023) said there are legal complications regarding allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to be taken abroad for treatment. Also read: Govt sincere to ensure Khaleda Zia gets best treatment: Hasan Mahmud The home minister said that Khaleda Zia was convicted in several cases and she had been in jail. But following the appeal of her relatives, the prime minister suspended her sentence and arranged treatment at home. Arrangements have been made for her to receive the best treatment possible, he said at an event at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) building in Dhaka. He said that Khaleda Zia’s brother made an appeal to take her abroad, but there are some legal complications. On September 24, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir  issued an ultimatum to the government to take necessary steps to send BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment within 48 hours, or be held responsible should anything happen to her. Also read: Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital On September 18, the government has once again extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term by another six months. The Security Services Division under the Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard. Khaleda Zia has to take treatment from her Dhaka residence and she will not be allowed to go abroad during this period, said the notification. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) from a cabin on Friday afternoon. Also read: Application must be submitted to Home Ministry to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment: Law Minister "Khaleda Zia was transferred to the CCU in the afternoon as per the recommendation of her medical board,” said her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain. The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.