Interim Government of Bangladesh Prioritizes Khaleda Zia’s Care, Declares Ex-PM ‘Very Important Person’

DHAKA: Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Prof. Muhammad Yunus today announced a major decision regarding opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia, stating that the interim government has declared the ailing BNP Chairperson a Very Important Person (VIP) of the state.

Addressing the nation on Victory Day, the Chief Adviser expressed concern over the health of the three-time former prime minister, who is currently hospitalized. He confirmed the government is giving her medical condition the highest priority.

Prof. Yunus said the decision to grant VIP status was based on Begum Khaleda Zia’s “unwavering commitment to the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy, her contributions to national development, and the people’s deep respect and emotion for her.”

He assured that the government is providing all necessary cooperation for her treatment, respecting her family’s wishes. “Alongside treatment at home, all aspects, including arrangements for advanced medical care abroad if required, are under consideration,” he stated.

The address was also marked by a stark warning against political violence. Prof. Yunus asserted that “defeated fascist forces” are using “covert killings”—such as the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi—and “harsh plans” to prevent a return to democracy following the July mass uprising.

“We will certainly confront in unity the fascist terrorists who are trying to create instability. We will not fall into their trap,” the Chief Adviser vowed, linking the current democratic push to the spirit of the Liberation War.

Prof. Yunus concluded by paying tribute to the martyrs of 1971, stating that the new opportunity to establish a democratic system, gained through the mass uprising, inspires the government’s extensive reform programme.