New Delhi: Expressing concern about the deteriorating health of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, prime minister Narendra Modi has offered “all possible support” for her recovery.

The 80-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, Bangladesh's first woman prime minister, was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on November 23 after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs, along with pneumonia. Her condition deteriorated sharply on Sunday night, when she was placed on ventilator support.

In a post shared in both English and Bengali on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said he was "deeply concerned" to learn about the health of Begum Khaleda Zia, acknowledging her significant contributions to Bangladesh's public life over many years.

“Our sincere prayers and best wishes are with her for a speedy recovery,” Modi wrote. “India stands ready to extend all possible support, in whatever way we can.”

On Monday (December 2), a five-member team of Chinese doctors arrived in Dhaka to consult with local specialists treating Khaleda Zia. According to The Business Standard, the delegation was sent by the Chinese government.

Khaleda Zia has been receiving intensive care in the hospital's Coronary Care Unit (CCU) for multiple complications affecting her liver, kidneys, and heart. She has a permanent pacemaker and has previously undergone cardiac stenting.

The Daily Star reported, citing her medical board, that her kidneys were not functioning properly as of Friday. If her condition permits, doctors are considering sending her to the United Kingdom or Singapore for advanced treatment.

"You can say she is on ventilation. You can say she is in a very critical condition," BNP vice-chairman Ahmed Azam Khan said on Monday.

Khaleda Zia has served as prime minister three times, completing the full five-year term twice. During her last tenure, New Delhi experienced tensions with Dhaka over concerns about cross-border arms supply to insurgent groups in northeast India. During the visits by Indian prime ministers to Bangladesh, Manmohan Singh in 2012 and Modi in 2015, she met them as leader of the opposition.

The BNP's role has become pivotal in post-Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh, as it is now the largest mainstream political party with the Awami League banned from political activities. The party is widely seen as the frontrunner to win the highest number of seats in general elections scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, with its erstwhile ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, breathing down its neck, as per latest opinion poll.

For several years, Khaleda Zia has been the nominal leader of the party, while her eldest son, Tarique Rahman, has directed operations remotely from self-imposed exile in London since 2008.

There had been expectations that Rahman would return from exile ahead of the elections. However, with his mother's deteriorating condition, there is intense speculation that he may be compelled to return earlier. The interim government has stated that there is no legal barrier to his return.

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