BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Sunday alleged that the deteriorating health of their Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia stems from the ‘mistreatment’ she faced during her time in jail.

“If the 1/11 political changeover had not happened, if she had not been mistreated in prison… our leader would not have fallen into this condition. She was given improper medical care while in jail, and as a result, she has become seriously ill,” he said.

Abbas, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while speaking briefly at a doa and milad mahfil arranged by the party’s Dhaka South City unit at the Nayapaltan Community Centre, seeking divine blessings for the critically ill Khaleda Zia.

He said Khaleda is greatly needed by the nation as the country is passing through a critical time.

The BNP leader also said people from all communities – Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians – and from all walks of life have been praying for Khaleda, showing their deep respect and love for her.

He said everyone is appealing to Allah to keep their leader alive. “Allah will surely listen to the appeal of the oppressed,” he said.

“Let us all pray for our beloved leader from the depths of our hearts, not as a formal ritual, so that our prayers reach Allah and she may recover soon,” Abbas said.

He also praised Khaleda Zia’s dedication to the country, saying, “We are proud of our leader. She has always said that I have friends abroad, but no masters. She wanted to stay among her people and never went abroad, despite repeated attempts by the then government to send her overseas during 1/11.”

Speaking at the programme, BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said Khaleda Zia is the guardian of the nation.

“Prayers for her have been officially requested by the state, and the President has also urged the nation to pray for her. I know that everyone is raising their hands before Allah for her recovery,” he added.

Khaleda Zia, 80, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs.

She is also suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), under the care of specialist doctors from both home and abroad.

BNP leaders described her condition on Friday night as “extremely critical.”

The former Prime Minister has also been suffering from multiple long-term health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney problems.