The political climate in Bangladesh faces heightened uncertainty as former Prime Minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia continues to fight for her life in a Dhaka hospital. With national elections scheduled for February 2026, the 80-year-old chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains in a critical and fragile condition, according to medical experts and party officials.
A Prolonged Battle with Severe Complications
Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on 23 November after developing a serious chest infection that impacted her heart and lungs. Her condition has since been complicated by multiple organ failures. Doctors report she is suffering from kidney dysfunction, persistent infections, and significant respiratory difficulties.
To aid her recovery, the medical team has placed her on elective ventilator support. This measure is intended to allow her lungs and other vital organs to rest. Furthermore, her kidney failure necessitates regular dialysis sessions. She has been undergoing advanced antibiotic and antifungal treatments as part of the intensive care protocol.
Stable Yet Critical: A Medical Perspective
Despite the aggressive treatment, there has been no report of a major turnaround in her health. Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, her personal physician, offered a nuanced assessment. He stated that while her health is "more stable" compared to the initial days of her hospitalisation, her overall condition remains grave. A minor medical procedure was recently performed on her, which was deemed successful.
Currently, the former prime minister is receiving round-the-clock monitoring and care in the hospital's Coronary Care Unit (CCU), which is equipped with full Intensive Care Unit facilities. Her son, Tarique Rahman, who lives in London, has publicly appealed to the people of Bangladesh to pray for his mother's recovery.
Political Implications for Upcoming Elections
Khaleda Zia's health crisis unfolds against a tense political backdrop. The BNP, under her leadership, is widely considered a frontrunner in the upcoming national elections. Zia herself had previously pledged to campaign in the 2026 polls despite her longstanding health issues.
Her current hospitalisation follows a period of significant political turmoil. Zia, who served three terms as the country's premier, was jailed in 2018 on corruption charges during the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. That government had also imposed a travel ban, preventing her from seeking medical treatment abroad. She was released last year, shortly after Hasina's removal from power.
The absence of the BNP's central figure at such a crucial juncture introduces a substantial variable into Bangladesh's electoral dynamics. The nation now watches closely, awaiting updates on her health while contemplating the potential political vacuum and the future of the opposition alliance.
