Bangladesh Nationalist Party chair and former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s physical condition remained unchanged, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Sunday afternoon.

Citing her illness, the party announced the suspension of its planned road show programme for December, the month of Victory.

Rizvi conveyed the information at an emergency press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan office in Dhaka at around 2:30pm.

Rizvi said that he had been informed by Khaleda Zia’s doctors that her condition had neither deteriorated  nor had improved significantly.

‘Her physical condition has remained unchanged,’ he said.

Rizvi said that Khaleda Zia was fighting for her life in a very fragile condition at Evercare Hospital, adding that the victory road show had been suspended due to her critical condition.

The medical board overseeing her care, he disclosed, has not yet provided any recommendation to send her abroad for treatment.

Responding to a question from journalists about when BNP acting chair Tarique Rahman might return to Bangladesh, Rizvi said that he had no update about that in the current circumstances.

‘The acting chair will return at an appropriate time when he deems it suitable. He is spending his days deeply worried and anxious for his mother, our chairperson. As far as I know, he is in constant contact with the attending doctors,’ Rizvi said.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that the groundwork for an emergency transfer abroad was being laid so that if Khaleda Zia’s condition stabilised and doctors deemed her fit to travel a quick decision could be taken in this regard.

He said that these processes had been more or less progressing but had remained strictly preparatory, as her current medical condition did not allow her to travel.

Fakhrul said that discussions had already been held regarding essential logistics, including visas, communication with potential destination countries, and other immediate arrangements that might be required at a short notice.

The BNP chair’s personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain on Saturday night told reporters that Khaleda Zia’s health condition had remained unchanged over the previous three days and she had been receiving treatment.

He said that the BNP chair was able to receive the treatment being administered by her medical board.

The BNP on Sunday suspended its planned Victory Month celebrations, including a road show from the Kalurghat Radio Centre in Chattogram from December 1 to 15, culminating in a grand rally on December 16, due to the health condition of Khaleda Zia.

The Victory Month programme, announced on Saturday by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chair’s political office in Gulshan, was scheduled to conclude with a grand rally on December 16, the Victory Day, at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka.

Party sources said that discussions had already taken place with the Qatar embassy about arranging an air ambulance.

They also said that should doctors find long-distance travel too risky, Singapore might be chosen instead, as it would require a shorter travel.

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23, and after examinations, doctors confirmed that she had developed a lung infection.

The 79-year-old politician has long suffered from multiple health conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney and lung complications, and eye problems.

She previously travelled to London for advanced treatment on January 7 and returned to Bangladesh on May 6 after 117 days of medical care there.