Professor Dr FM Siddiqui briefed reporters in front of Evercare Hospital yesterday. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Nov 24, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is receiving treatment under close medical supervision at Evercare Hospital after developing infections in both her heart and lungs.

Professor Dr FM Siddiqui, a member of the medical board constituted for the BNP chief, briefed reporters outside the hospital last night, confirming her condition and ongoing treatment.

He said, "For the past several months, she had been suffering frequent complications. Today, the reason we admitted her here (Evercare Hospital) is that several issues appeared simultaneously. She has developed an infection in her chest."

He added, "As she already had heart-related complications, including a permanent pacemaker and previous stenting procedures, she also suffers from a condition called mitral stenosis. Because of the chest infection, her heart and lungs were affected at the same time, causing severe respiratory distress. That is why we brought her here urgently."

Prof Siddiqui further said that Begum Zia is under 24-hour intensive monitoring. "After bringing her to the hospital, we immediately carried out the urgent tests required. Based on the preliminary reports, the medical board sat together and gave her antibiotics along with all necessary rapid and emergency treatment."

"We hope more reports will arrive within the next 24 hours. She is under our close observation, and we believe the next 12 hours will be very crucial for her condition," he said, adding, "At this moment, she is receiving our highest level of treatment and what we call intensive monitoring. She is in her cabin." 

Earlier, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital at 8pm on Sunday. She is under the care of hospital specialist Professor Dr Shahabuddin Talukder.

Several tests were conducted soon after she was taken to the hospital. Prof Shahabuddin Talukder is leading the medical board with Prof FM Siddiqui, Dr Jafar Iqbal, Dr Ziaul Haque, Dr Mamun Ahmed, Brigadier General Saiful Islam (retd), and virtually from London Dr Zubaida Rahman, as well as several specialist physicians from Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.

Prof FM Siddiqui said, "Treatment for Madam (Begum Zia) has begun based on the unanimous decision of the medical board."

Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said, "We want to say that proper and necessary measures are being taken for Madam's treatment and she is receiving intensive care with utmost caution. We do not think there is any extremely alarming condition at the moment."

He added, "If her treatment continues as it has begun, Alhamdulillah, then the medical board will sit again after the next 12 hours. Based on the updated assessment of her health condition, the board will decide what changes, if any, need to be made to her treatment."

He said that since early dawn yesterday, Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman have been maintaining constant communication from London regarding Khaleda Zia’s condition. 

In addition, the wife of Begum Zia's late younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, along with other family members, have been closely monitoring and assisting with her treatment.

Mentioning that Begum Khaleda Zia has sought doa from the country's people, Zahid said, "Madam has sought doa for her recovery, as the people have prayed for her in the past."

Seventy-nine-year-old Begum Zia has long been suffering from arthritis, diabetes, kidney issues, lung complications, and various other ailments.

On January 7 last, she travelled to London for advanced treatment and returned home on May 6 after a 117-day stay.