Bangladesh mourns death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia at 80
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her party has confirmed.
Zia, who led the country through some of its most turbulent political chapters, passed away at around 6am on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Doctors had said a day earlier that her condition was “extremely critical” and that she had been placed on life support, with her age and overall health limiting treatment options.
Crowds gathered outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving care for the past month. Police were seen restricting access as supporters arrived to pay their respects.
Bangladesh mourns
Zia made history in 1991 when she became Bangladesh’s first woman head of government after leading the BNP to victory in the country’s first democratic election in two decades. Her rise came after the assassination of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, in a 1981 military coup, an event that propelled her into frontline politics.
Initially viewed as a reserved figure, Zia went on to carve out a reputation as one of Bangladesh’s most formidable and uncompromising leaders. She refused to participate in elections held under military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad during the 1980s, a stance that helped cement her status as a symbol of resistance in a male dominated political arena.
Her first term in office was widely praised for expanding women’s education and advancing social development. Her government also restored parliamentary democracy by amending the constitution with cross party backing. However, her brief second term in 1996 drew criticism after a disputed election, prompting parliament to approve a neutral caretaker system before dissolving.
Zia returned to power in 2001 and served until October 2006, when she stepped down ahead of another general election. That administration faced persistent allegations of corruption, which later became central to legal cases against her.
For decades, Bangladeshi politics was shaped by the rivalry between Zia and Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League. The two alternated between power and opposition, with their feud defining the country’s political landscape.
Under the Awami League government, Zia emerged as the most prominent face of opposition to what critics described as increasingly authoritarian rule. She boycotted the 2014 election after the caretaker system was abolished, later facing corruption convictions that she said were politically motivated. She was jailed before being released last year, shortly after mass protests forced Hasina into exile.
Despite her declining health, the BNP had said Zia intended to contest general elections expected in February, the first since the political upheaval. The party is now positioning itself for a return to power, with Zia’s son Tarique Rahman expected to assume leadership if it succeeds. Rahman, 60, returned to Bangladesh only last week after 17 years in self imposed exile in London.
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Zia had been battling multiple health conditions, including kidney damage, heart disease and pneumonia. Although largely absent from public life in recent years, she remained a powerful symbol for opposition forces.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus paid tribute, calling her a “symbol of the democratic movement” and a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation”.
“The nation has lost a great guardian,” Yunus said. “Her role in establishing democracy, multi party politics, and the rights of the people will be remembered forever.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by her death and praised her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and its relationship with India.
Zia was surrounded by family members, including Rahman, his wife and daughter, in her final moments, the BNP said.
“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” the party added.
