DHAKA – Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has died at the age of 80, her party announced Tuesday. Zia passed away after a prolonged illness, according to BNP officials. Her doctors had previously reported that she was suffering from several health complications, including advanced liver cirrhosis.
The former Prime Minister was a towering political figure in Bangladesh, remembered as the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in the country’s history, and the second female Muslim leader in the world to democratically hold such a position, after Benazir Bhutto.
Born in 1945 in the Dinajpur district, Zia did not initially have direct political ambitions. However, the assassination of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, the former President and a prominent leader in the Bangladesh Liberation War, in 1981, marked a pivotal turning point in her life, propelling her into politics. She assumed leadership of the BNP in 1984 and led a prolonged struggle against military rule, ultimately leading her to serve as Prime Minister for two terms (1991-1996 and 2001-2006).
Her career was marked by intense political rivalry with her long-time adversary, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, leader of the Awami League. They alternated in power for decades amid political turmoil and frequent public protests. This made her political life a series of ascents to power and confrontations with the opposition or military authorities.
In recent years, Khaleda Zia faced significant legal and health challenges. She was charged with corruption and abuse of power, leading to imprisonment and house arrest for many years under the rule of her rival, Hasina Wajed. With the rise of popular protests in 2024 that ousted Hasina’s government, a presidential order was issued for Zia’s release. She returned to the political scene in Bangladesh despite her deteriorating health. Her son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, is preparing to return from exile to lead the party in the next phase. Further details will be provided as they become available.
