BNP activists wait outside Evercare for updates

BNP leaders and activists continued to gather outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka yesterday to enquire about the health condition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, despite repeated instructions from the party not to crowd the hospital premises.

Party men began arriving at the hospital gate from Friday midnight, with small groups standing near the entrance to seek updates from Khaleda's family members and medical team.

During a visit to the area yesterday afternoon, this correspondent found more than 50 leaders and activists standing near the entrance.

Meanwhile, leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Khelafat Majlish, Nagorik Oikya, Gono Odhikar Parishad, National Democratic Movement, Jatiya Party and National Citizen Party also visited the hospital yesterday.

Speaking to reporters at different times afterwards, they voiced concern over her health and wished her a speedy recovery.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Social Welfare Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid, and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, as well as senior BNP leaders, including Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Salahuddin Ahmed, went to the hospital.

Earlier in the day, a group under the banner "Moulik Bangla" held a prayer session and distributed tobarak.

In the morning, BNP issued a directive, asking its members not to gather in front of the hospital to avoid disrupting the treatment of Khaleda and other patients.

The party had earlier requested supporters to offer prayers at their homes, instead of visiting the hospital.

Despite the announcement, more leaders and activists from different units continued arriving throughout the evening, waiting outside for any update on the BNP chief's condition.

Many expressed concern, saying they had come out of deep loyalty and emotional attachment.

Awlad Hossain, a BNP leader from Dhaka's Mirpur, said, "We came to know about Khaleda Zia's condition. Our leader is ill, so we came here."

Acknowledging the party directive, he added, "The party has asked us not to crowd. We are trying to keep the gathering as small as possible."

Around 5:00pm, Dhaka North City BNP Convener Aminul Haque arrived and used a microphone to convince the crowd to disperse.

"Please don't crowd the hospital. Your prayers will reach from home," he told the activists, while volunteers held placards carrying the same message.

BNP leaders said the party is closely following the medical board's decisions and requested supporters nationwide to remain calm and continue praying for the former prime minister's recovery.

Khaleda is suffering from heart and lung infections and pneumonia and is currently being treated in the hospital's coronary care unit (CCU) under the supervision of both local and foreign specialists.