Khaleda Zia no more

BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia passed away around 6 am on Tuesday, while undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, confirmed the party's Media Cell in a facebook post.

At the time of her death, she was 80 years old.

The schedule of her funeral prayers will be announced at a later time, said the BNP chief's press wing member Shamsuddin Didar in a statement.

In her final hours, Khaleda's family members were present at the hospital. Khaleda's eldest son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, eldest daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman, granddaughter Zaima Rahman, youngest daughter-in-law Sharmila Rahman Sithi, elder sister Selina Islam, younger brother Shamim Iskander, and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were present, among other near and dear ones.

Earlier, around 2:20am, Khaleda's personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told reporters that she was going through an "extremely critical period" at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Evercare Hospital.

On 23 November, the former three-time prime minister was admitted to the hospital with infections in her heart and lungs. As her condition gradually deteriorated, she was first shifted to the CCU from a cabin, and then to the ICU.

Khaleda had for long been battling multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and chronic issues affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes.

Her treatment was overseen by a medical board led by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, with specialists from Bangladesh, the UK, the US, China, and Australia.

Earlier this month, there was an initiative to take her abroad for treatment, but it could not proceed due to her fragile condition.