Dhaka: Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and a towering figure in the country’s political history, passed away early Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 80.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said Zia breathed her last at 6 a.m., shortly after the Fajr prayer, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital. Family members were by her side, including her eldest son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who had recently returned from London.
“Begum Khaleda Zia passed away today at 6:00 a.m., shortly after the Fajr prayer. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un,” the BNP said in a statement, urging supporters to pray for her departed soul.
Born on August 15, 1945, Zia was the widow of former president Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP. She entered politics after his assassination in 1981 and emerged as a central leader during the pro-democracy movement against military rule.
Zia made history in 1991 by becoming Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, later serving a second term from 2001 to 2006. Her governments were marked by efforts to restore parliamentary democracy, pursue economic liberalisation and expand infrastructure.
For decades, Bangladeshi politics revolved around her fierce rivalry with Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina—a period often dubbed the era of “Begum politics.” In her later years, Zia faced corruption cases that led to imprisonment, while chronic health issues kept her largely away from public life.
Condolences poured in from across the region. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over her passing, acknowledging her role in Bangladesh’s development and in strengthening India–Bangladesh ties. “Our sincerest condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant them strength in this moment of loss,” he wrote on X.
Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.
Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss.
As the… pic.twitter.com/BLg6K52vak
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025
