Armed forces chiefs visit critically ill Ex-PM Khaleda Zia in Dhaka

In a rare display of unity, the chiefs of Bangladesh’s Army, Navy and Air Force paid a joint visit on Tuesday night to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who remains in critical condition at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) confirmed that Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met Zia’s family members and medical team during the brief visit. Their convoy entered the hospital around 9 pm and left shortly after 9:20 pm.

Khaleda Zia, 80, was admitted on November 23 with severe infections affecting her heart and lungs. Her condition deteriorated over the past week, leading to her transfer to the coronary care unit and placement on a ventilator on Sunday night. The interim government has declared her a “very, very important person (VVIP)”, enabling the deployment of the Special Security Force (SSF) around the hospital. Cabins surrounding hers on the fourth floor have been vacated to maintain a heightened security perimeter.

Zia, a three-time prime minister and Bangladesh’s first woman elected to the post, remains one of the most influential political leaders in the country’s modern history. During her terms in office, she oversaw infrastructure expansion, took steps toward economic liberalisation and strengthened multi-party democratic processes in the post-military era. As the long-time chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), she has shaped the political vision of the main opposition for over four decades and continues to command strong grassroots support.

Across Bangladesh, BNP supporters and local units have organised special prayers for her recovery, with gatherings reported in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal and other major cities. Later on Tuesday night, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman also visited the hospital to offer prayers and meet Zia’s family members.

The visit by the service chiefs comes at a politically sensitive moment as Bangladesh prepares for national elections. BNP has regained prominence following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024 amid student-led protests. Hasina, who led the country for more than 15 years, remains a central figure in the political conversation. Her tenure saw major economic growth and large-scale infrastructure development, though critics frequently accused her of curbing democratic freedoms. The political shift following her departure continues to influence voter sentiment as parties prepare for the upcoming polls.

BNP leaders say Zia’s son and acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is planning to return to Bangladesh soon. Rahman, who has been living in London since 2008, is awaiting a new Bangladeshi passport as he has declined a one-time travel pass offered by the interim government. The Election Commission has said he is currently not registered as a voter but may apply if permitted under election rules.