Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away After Prolonged Illness- Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and one of the most influential figures in the country’s political history, Khaleda Zia, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her party confirmed on Tuesday. Her death marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics, where she played a central and often polarizing role for more than three decades.
Zia, who had been battling multiple health complications for years, was placed on life support after her condition deteriorated sharply. Physicians treating her said on Monday that she was in “extremely critical” condition, adding that her advanced age and overall poor health limited the range of treatments doctors could administer simultaneously. Despite intensive medical care, her condition failed to improve.
Born into a politically prominent family, Khaleda Zia rose to national prominence following the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. She later assumed leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and went on to shape the country’s political trajectory during a pivotal moment in its history.
In 1991, Zia led the BNP to victory in Bangladesh’s first democratic elections in two decades, becoming the nation’s first female prime minister. Her election followed the fall of military rule and marked a major turning point for democratic governance in the country. She would go on to serve multiple terms as prime minister, alternating power with her longtime political rival, Sheikh Hasina.
The rivalry between Zia and Hasina came to define Bangladeshi politics for years, deeply influencing governance, party loyalty, and public discourse. Their competing visions and intense personal and political clashes shaped much of the country’s modern political landscape, often leading to periods of instability, protests, and political deadlock.
In recent years, Zia’s health significantly curtailed her public appearances and political activities. Even so, her party had earlier indicated that she intended to contest the upcoming general elections expected in February. Those elections are set to be the first since a popular uprising that resulted in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, adding further significance to the political moment Zia’s death now leaves behind.
Supporters within the BNP viewed Zia as a symbol of resilience and leadership, crediting her with restoring parliamentary democracy and strengthening Bangladesh’s political institutions during her time in office. Critics, however, often accused her administrations of corruption and confrontational politics. Regardless of perspective, her influence on the nation’s political development is widely acknowledged.
Following news of her death, tributes poured in from party leaders, political allies, and supporters across the country. Many praised her role as a trailblazer for women in South Asian politics, noting that her leadership helped pave the way for greater female participation in public life.
Zia is survived by her family and a political legacy that continues to shape Bangladesh’s future. As the country prepares for a critical election amid a rapidly evolving political environment, her passing is expected to have far-reaching implications for the BNP and the broader political landscape.
With Khaleda Zia’s death, Bangladesh loses one of its most consequential leaders — a figure whose life and career were inseparable from the nation’s struggle for democracy, power, and political identity.
