Dhaka, Dec. 1 -- Former prime minister Khaleda Zia has been put under special care after her condition deteriorated around 3:30am, her medical board sources have said.

The sources would not give more details on Monday but said international medical specialists had started arriving in Dhaka and that she might be flown abroad if her condition permitted.

Meanwhile, the government has declared the BNP chairperson as "a very very important person" to facilitate deployment of the elite security force SSF for her.

A government circular Monday night said as a VVIP she would get protection from the Special Security Force.

SSF officers were learnt to be ready to take up positions at the private hospital where the former prime minister was being...