Remembering Khaleda Zia: Bangladesh's First Female Prime Minister Passes Away

Tue Dec 30 2025 06:49:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, has died at the age of 80 after a long illness. Her legacy and impact on Bangladesh's political landscape are remembered.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, passed away at 80 after battling prolonged health issues. Known for her leadership and significant role in Bangladesh's politics, she led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to victory in the nation's first democratic election in two decades. Despite facing corruption allegations and a fierce rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, Zia's contributions to the nation remain influential. She spent time in jail for corruption before her death, and her party announced her passing on social media, marking the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after suffering from a prolonged illness.

'Our favourite leader is no longer with us. She left us at 6am this morning,' Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Facebook.

Physicians had said on Monday night that Zia's condition was 'extremely critical.' She was put on life support, but it was not possible to provide multiple treatments at the same time given her age and overall poor health, they said.

Zia became Bangladesh's first female head of government in 1991 after leading the BNP to victory in the country's first democratic election in 20 years. She returned to the post in 2001 and stepped down in 2006 ahead of the general elections.

Her political career faced challenges, including corruption allegations and a long political rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from office last year. In 2018, Zia was jailed for five years due to corruption.