Dhaka, Dec. 30 -- BNP Standing Committee member AZM Zahid Hossain, who served as former prime minister Khaleda Zia's personal physician, recalls the former prime minister as a leader who combined authority with "motherly affection".

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday afternoon at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office, ahead of a meeting of the Standing Committee, Zahid paid tribute to Khaleda.

Khaleda, a three-time prime minister, died at 6am on Tuesday after undergoing treatment for 40 days at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

During her treatment, Zahid regularly briefed the media as a member of the medical board formed to oversee her care.

He said Khaleda was someone who treated those close to her both as a "true guardian" and with deep "...