Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating health of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. In a public message, he assured that India stands ready to extend “all possible support” should Bangladesh require assistance for her treatment. Modi’s words came at a moment of heightened anxiety across Bangladesh as the 80-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains in a critical condition, reportedly placed on ventilation at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital.

Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister and one of Bangladesh’s most influential political figures, was admitted to the hospital on November 23 after developing a serious chest infection. According to BNP leaders and medical personnel, the infection compromised both her heart and lung function, prompting specialists to move her to the coronary care unit (CCU) four days later when her condition worsened significantly. Since then, teams of local and international medical experts have been monitoring her closely, but the overall prognosis remains grim.

Modi’s message on X (formerly Twitter) acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s long-standing role in Bangladesh’s political and public life. He wrote that she had contributed to the country’s public sphere for many years and extended India’s prayers and wishes for her recovery. He added that India “stands ready to extend all possible support, in whatever way we can,” in what observers have described as an unusually warm gesture given the historically strained relationship between New Delhi and the BNP. The Indian Prime Minister’s statement reflects both humanitarian concern and a recognition of Khaleda Zia’s stature as a major stateswoman in South Asia.

Reports from Dhaka suggest that Zia’s condition has worsened sharply despite intensive treatment. BNP Vice-chairman Advocate Ahmed Aazam Khan told reporters that she had been placed on ventilation due to respiratory failure and that doctors were struggling to stabilize her condition. He stated that “there is nothing more to do except seek prayers from the whole nation,” underscoring the severity of her illness. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed this sentiment, describing her as “extremely unwell” and revealing that both Bangladeshi and foreign specialists were attempting every possible intervention. He emphasized that her condition remains critical and that the medical team is doing everything in its capacity, although the overall situation appears bleak.

Khaleda Zia has faced a series of major health challenges over the past several years. She suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, including liver complications, kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and several ophthalmic issues. These comorbidities have progressively weakened her health, making any acute infection potentially life-threatening. Earlier this year, she spent four months in London undergoing advanced medical treatment before returning to Bangladesh, where her condition has oscillated between stabilizing periods and sudden episodes of deterioration.

The situation has also revived discussions about the political and legal constraints surrounding her movement and treatment. Khaleda Zia has largely been under de facto house arrest or restricted conditions since her conviction in several corruption-related cases, although the government has occasionally relaxed these restrictions on humanitarian grounds. Her supporters have long argued that she should be allowed to travel abroad for specialized medical care unavailable in Bangladesh, while the government maintains that all necessary treatment can be provided domestically.

Despite these tensions, the gravity of her current condition has prompted calls for unity and compassion across Bangladesh’s deeply divided political spectrum. BNP leaders have appealed for prayers and urged the government to show flexibility if foreign treatment becomes urgently necessary. Meanwhile, the Awami League leadership has refrained from commenting publicly in detail, though officials have stated that the government is providing everything needed for her care.

Khaleda Zia’s family circumstances add another emotional dimension to her health crisis. Her elder son, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP, has lived in London since 2008 in self-imposed exile due to numerous legal cases pending against him in Bangladesh. Her younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, passed away earlier this year from a cardiac arrest, an event that deeply affected her already fragile health. On Sunday, Tarique Rahman suggested through a Facebook post that he may not be able to return to Bangladesh immediately despite his mother’s critical condition, remarking that the matter was “not entirely” within his control. His statement fueled speculation about political and legal barriers that might prevent him from traveling home even in this moment of personal crisis.

Against this complex backdrop, Modi’s message of concern has drawn attention in both India and Bangladesh. Although New Delhi has historically maintained closer ties with the ruling Awami League, India has also adopted a consistent position of supporting Bangladesh’s stability and humanitarian needs irrespective of internal political dynamics. Modi’s offer of help therefore serves multiple purposes: signaling goodwill during a humanitarian crisis, acknowledging Khaleda Zia’s legacy, and reinforcing India’s role as a responsible neighbour willing to assist Bangladesh in times of national anxiety.

Khaleda Zia remains one of the most consequential figures in Bangladesh’s political history. As the country’s first female prime minister, she led two non-consecutive governments in the 1990s and early 2000s. Her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s current and longest-serving prime minister, has shaped the country’s political landscape for decades, producing one of South Asia’s most enduring and intense political polarizations. Even in her absence from active politics, her influence over the BNP—and the loyalties of millions of supporters—remains substantial. Her critical illness therefore holds not only personal significance but also political reverberations, with potential implications for BNP leadership dynamics and Bangladesh’s broader political future.

As of now, all eyes remain on Evercare Hospital, where teams of doctors continue their efforts to stabilize her condition. BNP leaders have been maintaining a continuous presence outside the hospital, while supporters across the country gather in prayer. International messages of sympathy have begun to surface, and political leaders from both within Bangladesh and abroad are closely monitoring the situation.

Prime Minister Modi’s unexpected and compassionate message indicates the seriousness with which India views the unfolding developments. Whether this gesture leads to any formal request for assistance from Bangladesh remains uncertain, but the possibility is now open. For now, the focus remains on Khaleda Zia’s health and the hope that the collective efforts of medical experts, combined with the prayers of millions, will help her recover from this critical phase.

As the situation evolves, it carries with it not only profound emotional weight for her family and supporters but also potential symbolic significance for regional diplomacy and the political equilibrium within Bangladesh. Her recovery or further decline will be closely watched, and the coming days are likely to be decisive as doctors continue their struggle to manage her complex and multi-layered health complications.