Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and longtime political rival of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, has passed away at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness.
She had planned to contest a third term in February, Bangladesh’s first election since the 2024 revolution that removed Hasina. Entering politics after her husband, President Ziaur Rahman’s assassination in 1981, Khaleda Zia became the nation’s first female PM in 1991.
Known as an “uncompromising leader,” her first term advanced women’s education and restored parliamentary democracy, while her 1996 second term faced criticism for a one-sided election.
Her career, marked by imprisonment and house arrest, was defined by a bitter rivalry with Hasina; she was acquitted of corruption and allowed treatment in London only after Hasina’s exit. Physicians described her condition as “extremely critical”; she was on life support, with age and poor health limiting treatment. The BNP announced on Facebook, “Our favourite leader is no longer with us,” as crowds gathered outside Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital.
Zia returned as PM in 2001, stepping down in 2006 amid corruption allegations. During 16 years under the Awami League, she became a symbol of resistance to Hasina, boycotted the 2014 election, and was jailed on charges she denied. Released in January 2025 after protests toppled Hasina, she was later sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. The BNP had planned for her to campaign, with her son Tarique Rahman, 60, recently returned from 17 years in London, expected to lead if the party wins.
Hospitalised for a month with kidney, heart, and lung issues, Zia remained a key opposition figure. Interim BNP leader Muhammad Yunus described her as a “symbol of the democratic movement” and “a source of utmost inspiration.”
Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, in India, paid tribute on X, calling Zia’s contributions “significant” and her passing a “profound loss” for Bangladesh’s political life. PM Narendra Modi expressed sadness and highlighted her role in Bangladesh-India relations, while Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif called her “a committed friend of Pakistan.”
Zia’s family, including her son Tarique Rahman, wife, and daughter, were by her side. The BNP asked the nation to pray for her soul.
