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Khaleda Zia’s condition remains critical as Bangladesh gears up for elections

Bangladesh will hold its general election on February 12, even as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia remains in critical condition in a Dhaka hospital.

2 min readDec 12, 2025 02:30 PM IST

Her critical condition adds pressure to an already sensitive political climate.

Bangladesh heads for national elections on February 12 while opposition leader Khaleda Zia fights for her life in hospital. (File Photo)

BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is still in critical health and receiving intensive treatment in Dhaka. Medical experts say her condition is complex and fragile. She has been placed on elective ventilator support after her breathing worsened and her oxygen levels fell, reported The Dhaka Tribune. The update came a day after the Bangladesh General Elections were announced for all 300 seats.

The elections, the first since former PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, will be held on February 2026. The Election Commission confirmed the date, saying the polls will decide a new parliament and shape the country’s political future.

Khaleda Zia’s condition remains critical

Professor Dr Shahabuddin Talukdar, speaking on behalf of the medical board overseeing Khaleda Zia’s treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, issued the update on Thursday. Doctors at Evercare Hospital were quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune that several of her vital organs remain under severe stress. Her kidney function has failed, and she requires regular dialysis. She is also being treated for severe infections, gastrointestinal bleeding and other complications.

On November 27, she was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, which is still under intensive treatment. Due to severe infection, she is receiving advanced antibiotic and antifungal therapy.

She is also receiving transfusions of blood and its components due to gastrointestinal bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite all treatments, her fever persists, and as some issues were observed in her aortic valve

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The medical board treating her urged the public not to spread rumours and to respect her privacy as she undergoes round-the-clock care from both local and international specialists.

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