Modi promises ‘all possible support’ for ailing Khaleda Zia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (December 1, 2025) reached out to Bangladesh and promised “all possible support” to help in the recovery of the ailing former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia, who has been in a critical condition for nearly a week at a Dhaka hospital.

Earlier on Monday (December 1, 2025), a five-member delegation of Chinese doctors reached Bangladesh to assist the team supervising Begum Zia’s treatment at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

“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,” Mr. Modi said in a message posted on social media platform X on Monday (December 1, 2025).

The Indian Prime Minister had met Begum Zia during his June 2015 visit to Dhaka, when India and Bangladesh, then helmed by Sheikh Hasina, had signed the landmark Land Boundary Agreement. In a rare outreach to Opposition leaders, Mr. Modi had met Begum Zia and the Jatiyo Party’s Raushan Ershad during that visit.

Ms. Khaleda Zia has been part of Bangladesh’s political life for more than four decades, having taken charge of the BNP after the brutal killing of her husband and then President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981.

She campaigned for the restoration of multi-party democracy with Ms. Hasina, the leader of the Awami League, which led to the end of the military dictatorship under the late General Hossein Mohammed Ershad. Begum Zia, as she is popularly known, became the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh when the BNP won the election in 1991. She returned to power in 2001 and remained in power till 2006.

Her party boycotted three elections in Bangladesh, starting with the election of 2014 onward till 2024, and provided support to the anti-Hasina uprising in August 2024. During this time, however, Begum Zia remained active in political life and often met visiting foreign delegations.

The BNP is currently the largest political party and is expected to do well in the February 2026 election announced by the interim government of Bangladesh.