Khaleda Zia's illness result of abnormal circumstances: Mirza Abbas

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has claimed that the recent illness of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is not normal. According to him, Begum Zia has reached her current condition because she was a “victim of abnormal circumstances”.

He made the remarks on Saturday, November 29, at the prize-giving ceremony of the “Ruposhi Bangla Photography Exhibition and Competition 2025”, organised by the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.

Mirza Abbas said she had always been cautious, especially regarding prison officials. He claimed that there is a risk of “slow poisoning” inside jail. He added that an Indian journalist once told him, “She will not live for two years”, which made him realise she was being “systematically pushed towards death”. However, he noted that, by the mercy of Allah, Khaleda Zia is still alive.

He said that at around 1am on Friday, he visited Khaleda Zia at the hospital and stayed for nearly an hour. According to the latest updates he received, her condition has slightly improved compared with before. He wished her a speedy recovery.

Speaking on the election, Mirza Abbas said certain groups abroad were conspiring. He said they had exploited the country for years and, after leaving it in disarray, were now commenting that no election could be held without the Awami League. He countered by saying that elections had previously taken place without the BNP. According to him, the election would be held in Bangladesh and it would be held in February.

Among others addressing the event were AKM Mohosin, president of the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association; former president ABM Rafiqul Rahman; general secretary Babul Talukder; Nasim Shikder, convenor of Exhibition 2025; and Dhaka Union of Journalists general secretary Khurshid Alam.

In the Ruposhi Bangla 2025 photography competition, M Haidar Ali from Chattogram won first place, Dhaka’s Shamsul Haque Ripon came second, and M Rashed from Chattogram secured third place.