Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed concern over the health of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment in Dhaka. He conveyed India’s readiness to extend all possible support for her recovery.
In a post on X, PM Modi said: “Deeply concerned to learn about the health of Begum Khaleda Zia, who has contributed to Bangladesh’s public life for many years. Our sincere prayers and best wishes for her speedy recovery. India stands ready to extend all possible support, in whatever way we can.”
Khaleda Zia, 80, was admitted to Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital on November 23 with a lung infection. She is being treated in the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) under the supervision of a medical board comprising local and foreign specialists. According to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, her condition remains critical.
Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has also expressed concern about her health and sent adviser Asif Nazrul to the hospital to check on her condition.
Khaleda Zia has long suffered from multiple health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney complications. Earlier this year, she travelled to London on January 8 for advanced treatment and spent 17 days at the London Clinic. She later continued treatment at her son Tarique Rahman’s residence under the care of specialist doctors before returning to Bangladesh on May 6.
Begum Khaleda Zia served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. She was the country’s first woman Prime Minister and is the widow of former President Ziaur Rahman.
(With ANI inputs)