Bangladesh's first female PM Khaleda Zia dies at 80

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80.

The BNP confirmed that Khaleda Zia breathed her last at around 6 am local time, shortly after the Fajr prayer. The party announced the news through posts on its verified Facebook page, offering prayers for the eternal peace of her soul and urging supporters to pray for the departed leader.

Khaleda Zia had been admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 after developing a lung infection. She had been battling multiple health issues for years, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis and kidney complications. Earlier this month, she was taken to London for advanced medical treatment before returning to Dhaka.

Her death comes at a crucial political juncture, with Bangladesh preparing for national elections scheduled for February 2026 amid heightened political tensions following last year’s July Uprising.

The former Prime Minister’s passing also follows the recent return of her son and senior BNP leader Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh after years in exile. Rahman returned last week after being acquitted in several cases filed during the previous Awami League government and had visited his mother at the hospital.