Khaleda Zia’s party lauds PM Modi’s ‘gesture of goodwill’ on Bangladesh ex-Prime Minister’s health

Acknowledging PM Modi’s remarks, BNP in a post on X said, “BNP expresses its sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, for his thoughtful message and kind wishes for the speedy recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. BNP deeply appreciates this gesture of goodwill and the expression of readiness to extend support.”

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2025

Prime Minister had earlier put out a post expressing concern over the deteriorating health of Khaleda Zia, who he said has “contributed to Bangladesh’s public life for many years”. He further signalled New Delhi’s willingness to extend support and assistance.

“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,” PM Modi wrote in a post on his official X account.

BNP expresses its sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, for his thoughtful message and kind wishes for the speedy recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

BNP deeply appreciates this gesture of goodwill and the expression of readiness…

— Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) December 1, 2025

Khaleda Zia remains in critical condition

Khaleda Zia, the first woman to serve as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, was admitted to a private hospital on November 23 with a chest infection affecting both her heart and lungs, according to senior party officials.

“We have sought prayers from the people across the country after Jummah prayers for the recovery of the ‘Mother of Democracy’, Begum Khaleda Zia. We pray that she may recover and return to the people to get the opportunity to work for the country,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

Zia’s only son and BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, who has been living in London since 2008, said that his return to the country depends on factors beyond his control.

The BNP’s influence has increased since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising last year.

The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, stated on Saturday that it had “no restrictions or objections” to Rahman’s return.

“There are no obstacles in this matter,” Yunus’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a Facebook post, according to Reuters.

De facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain said on Sunday that the government would provide Rahman with a travel pass within a day if he wished to return.

Rahman has been acquitted in all pending cases since Hasina’s ouster in August last year, removing the legal hurdles that had previously complicated his homecoming.