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Death of Bangladesh's first female prime minister
Khaleda Zia, who led Bangladesh as its first woman prime minister and spent decades locked in a fierce political battle with ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, died on Tuesday at 80 after a prolonged illness.
Final days and political legacy
Zia had been hospitalized for a month at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, receiving treatment for kidney damage, heart disease, and pneumonia. Physicians described her condition as "extremely critical" on Monday, noting that her advanced age and frail health limited treatment options. She was placed on life support before passing away at 6 a.m. local time.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which Zia led for decades, announced her death on Facebook, calling her "our favorite leader." Crowds quickly gathered outside the hospital as news spread.
From first lady to political icon
Zia entered politics in 1981 following the assassination of her husband, then-President Ziaur Rahman, in a military coup. Initially a reserved figure, she emerged as a dominant force, becoming prime minister in 1991 and breaking barriers in a male-dominated political landscape.
Her first term was marked by efforts to advance women's education and social development, as well as the restoration of parliamentary democracy through constitutional amendments. However, her second term in 1996 lasted only weeks after she was accused of orchestrating a one-sided election despite opposition demands for a neutral caretaker government-a system later enshrined in law.
A life of rivalry and resistance
Zia's political career was defined by her bitter feud with Sheikh Hasina, who led the Awami League. Over the past 16 years, Zia became the most visible symbol of resistance to Hasina's rule, which critics described as increasingly autocratic.
She boycotted the 2014 election after Hasina abolished the caretaker government system, a move Zia argued undermined electoral fairness. Later, she was convicted of corruption and imprisoned, charges she denied as politically motivated. Released in January 2025 following mass protests that forced Hasina into exile, Zia had planned to campaign in the upcoming February elections, with her party eyeing a return to power.
Family and international reactions
Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh last week after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London, was at her bedside in her final moments, along with other family members. The BNP called for prayers for her soul in a statement.
Tributes poured in from global leaders. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed "deep sadness" over her death, praising her contributions to Bangladesh and its relations with India. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called her a "committed friend of Pakistan" whose legacy would endure.
Hasina, now in exile in India, issued a statement via X, acknowledging Zia's "significant contributions" to Bangladesh and calling her death a "profound loss." Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, described Zia as a "symbol of the democratic movement," adding that her role in advancing democracy and multi-party politics would be "remembered forever."
What comes next
With Zia's death, the BNP loses its most prominent figurehead ahead of the February elections. Her son, Tarique Rahman, is widely expected to take the reins if the party secures victory. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's political landscape remains deeply divided, with the legacy of Zia and Hasina's rivalry shaping the country's future.
