Bangladesh's first female prime minister Khaleda Zia dies at 80

Bangladesh’s former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia passed away after a prolonged illness, her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), confirmed on Tuesday.

Khaleda Zia, who was 80, had been suffering from multiple health complications, including advanced liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and cardiac and chest-related conditions, according to her medical team.

In a statement, the BNP said its chairperson and former prime minister died at 6:00am, shortly after the Fajr prayer. The party described her as a national leader and appealed to the public to pray for her forgiveness and eternal peace.

Tweet by Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP

Despite prolonged illness and years spent in prison, Khaleda Zia had announced in November her intention to take part in campaigning ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 2026. The polls are expected to be the first since last year’s mass uprising that led to the ouster of her long-time political rival, Sheikh Hasina.

Her party is considered a strong contender in the upcoming elections. However, toward the end of November, Khaleda Zia was shifted to hospital as her health deteriorated. Doctors said her condition continued to worsen despite extensive medical care.

During her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus urged the nation to pray for her recovery, referring to Khaleda Zia as a figure of great inspiration for the country.