Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia died early on Tuesday at the age of 80, according to media reports.
A towering figure in Bangladesh’s politics for decades, she was a principal rival of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile in New Delhi since fleeing the country amid widespread unrest in 2024, The Daily Star reported.
Khaleda Zia was the first woman to serve as prime minister of Bangladesh. She married Ziaur Rahman in 1960, who later became president in 1977. Following his assassination by military officers in 1981, she entered active politics and assumed leadership of the BNP in 1984.
She led the party to victory in the 1991 elections, becoming prime minister for the first time. Zia served two terms in office, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.
Zia had been critically ill for several months and was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She had long suffered from multiple serious health conditions, including heart disease, liver and kidney ailments, diabetes, respiratory problems, arthritis and eye-related disorders. She had a permanent pacemaker and had previously undergone cardiac stent procedures.
Despite her fragile health, Zia had last month indicated her willingness to campaign for the next general election, expected in early 2026, in which the BNP is widely regarded as a leading contender. The Daily Star reported that since returning from London on May 6 after advanced medical treatment, she had been undergoing regular medical reviews at Evercare Hospital.
Her death comes days after her son, BNP leader Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh from London, ending 17 years of self-imposed exile as the country moves towards crucial elections.
