DHAKA: Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia’s health condition deteriorated on Thursday night and she was placed on ventilator support, doctors said.

“Her breathing difficulties increased, her oxygen level fell, and carbon dioxide levels rose,” according to a statement by the chief of the medical board cardiologist Shahabuddin Talukdar.

It said the 80-year-old former premier was previously being treated with “High Flow Nasal Cannula and BiPAP support, but as there was no improvement, she was placed on elective ventilator support to give rest to her lungs and other vital organs.”