Bangladesh’s First Female PM Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80

Key Highlights

• Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, dies after prolonged illness
• Led BNP to victory in 1991, marking return of democracy after two decades
• Her death ends a long era of political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and veteran political leader Khaleda Zia has passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her party confirmed on Tuesday. Zia, who had been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for the past month, was placed on life support as her condition deteriorated. Physicians had earlier described her health as “extremely critical,” citing complications including kidney damage, heart disease, and pneumonia.

“Our beloved leader is no longer with us. She passed away at 6am this morning,” the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced in a statement shared on social media. Following the news, large crowds gathered outside the hospital, prompting police to restrict access to the premises.

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Khaleda Zia rose to national prominence after leading the BNP to victory in 1991, becoming Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and steering the country through its first democratic transition after nearly 20 years of military-backed rule. She served multiple terms as head of government, with her most significant tenures spanning from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.

Her political journey began after the assassination of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, in a military coup in 1981. Entering politics amid national turmoil, she eventually emerged as one of the most influential figures in Bangladesh’s history.

For decades, Bangladeshi politics remained dominated by the intense rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, as the two alternated between power and opposition. The rivalry shaped the country’s political discourse and deeply polarized society.

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Zia’s career, however, was also marked by controversy. In 2018, she was jailed on corruption charges during Sheikh Hasina’s administration—allegations she consistently denied, calling them politically motivated. She was released last year following mass protests that led to Hasina’s ouster and subsequent exile.

Despite her fragile health, the BNP had recently indicated that Khaleda Zia intended to campaign in the upcoming general elections, expected in February. Her party is now eyeing a political comeback, with her son Tarique Rahman—who returned to Bangladesh last week after 17 years in exile—widely seen as the party’s future leader.

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Tributes poured in from across the country. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described her as a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation,” while leading newspapers hailed her as a defining figure of Bangladesh’s democratic struggle.

Family members, including her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, were present during her final moments. The BNP called on supporters to pray for her forgiveness and eternal peace.

With Khaleda Zia’s passing, Bangladesh closes a significant chapter in its political history—one defined by resilience, rivalry, and an enduring struggle for democratic power.

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