Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, passes away at the age of 80.
Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina’s bitter adversary, passed away after a protracted illness. She was eighty years old.
In February, when the nation would have its first ballot since Hasina was overthrown by a popular uprising in late 2024, Zia planned to run for parliament.
After her husband, then-President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated, she entered politics and became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister in 1991.
A long feud with Hasina characterized her career, which involved periods of house arrest and incarceration. It wasn’t until Hasina lost power that she was cleared of wrongdoing and permitted to go to London for treatment.
Zia’s health was described as “extremely critical” by doctors on Monday. They said that although she was placed on life support, her advanced age and general poor condition made it impossible to administer several treatments at once.
“We no longer have our favorite leader. On Tuesday, Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) posted on Facebook, saying, “She left us at 6am this morning.”
Crowds gathered outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where Zia had been admitted, when word of her passing spread.
Zia had a quiet presence with her well-known husband, Rahman, the former president of Bangladesh. After being assassinated in a military takeover in 1981, Zia entered politics and led the BNP in the nation’s first elections in twenty years.
After declining to participate in a contentious election under military dictator General Hussain Muhammad Ershad in the 1980s, Zia gained notoriety as a “uncompromising leader” and emerged as one of Bangladesh’s most powerful political figures.
The first lady from Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia Prime Minister: A life of strength and defiance
Her government restored parliamentary democracy by rewriting the constitution with bipartisan support, and her efforts to advance women’s education and social development were warmly praised during her first term.
Her brief second tenure in 1996 was criticized for holding a biased election in spite of opposition calls for an impartial caretaker government, which the parliament had agreed before to its dissolution.
In October 2006, Zia resigned as prime minister in advance of a general election, having taken office again in 2001. Allegations of corruption brought harsh condemnation to her government.
Zia became as the most well-known symbol of opposition to Hasina’s leadership, which many perceived as becoming more dictatorial, during the previous 16 years under the Awami League government.
After her opponent Hasina eliminated the caretaker government system, which was intended to maintain impartiality during national elections, she abstained from the 2014 election. Zia was later found guilty of corruption and imprisoned. She stated the accusations were politically driven and denied any misconduct.
She was freed in January 2025, shortly after Hasina was forced into exile in India due to widespread anti-government demonstrations in Bangladesh. Due to her suppression of the demonstrations, she was later found guilty of crimes against humanity and given the death penalty.
In November, the BNP said that Zia would run for office in the next general elections. Tarique Rahman, Zia’s son, is anticipated to take over as the nation’s leader if the party succeeds in regaining power.
After living in self-imposed exile in London for 17 years, Rahman, 60, only returned to Bangladesh this week.
For the past month, Zia has been undergoing treatment for a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, heart problems, and kidney impairment.
Zia continued to be a symbol for opposition movements even if her health prevented her from participating in public life.
Zia was described as a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation” by interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who urged the nation to pray for her in her final days.
Yunus called Zia a “symbol of the democratic movement” and expressed his sympathies in a statement on Tuesday.
“The nation has lost a great guardian… Her role in the struggle to establish democracy, a multi-party political culture, and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever,” he stated in a statement.
A statement honoring Zia was released on X by Hasina’s party, the Awami League, which is currently prohibited in Bangladesh.
In her statement, Hasina, who is still in India, said that Zia’s death was a “profound loss for Bangladesh’s political life” and that her “contributions to the nation were significant and will be remembered.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India expressed his “deep sadness” over Zia’s loss and honored her contributions to Bangladesh’s growth and its ties to India.
“We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership,” he posted to X.
Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, referred to Zia as “a committed friend of Pakistan” whose assistance to Bangladesh would have a long-lasting impact.
Rahman, his wife, and his daughter were among Zia’s family members who were by her side during her final moments, according to BNP.
“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” the party stated in a statement released on Tuesday.
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