Bangladesh’s first female PM Khaleda Zia dies at 80
Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history and the country’s first female Prime Minister, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her outfit Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced. She passed away at around 6 am (local time) at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been under medical care for several weeks.
Her death marks the end of a significant chapter in Bangladesh’s modern political history, closing the life of a leader whose career spanned decades of tumultuous change, fierce rivalry and enduring influence on her nation’s governance.
Zia’s health had reportedly deteriorated due to multiple chronic conditions, including advanced cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, arthritis and complications related to heart and chest, according to medical sources and her physicians.
As per the local media, efforts were reportedly made to arrange medical evacuation for further treatment abroad, but a medical board did not grant clearance for her transfer.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first global leaders to express condolences, saying he was deeply saddened by the news of Zia’s demise. “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,” Modi said in a post on X.
Recalling their interaction, Modi said her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and to India-Bangladesh relations would always be remembered. “I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” he said, sharing a photograph from the meeting.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also expressed profound sorrow, describing Zia as a “great guardian” of the nation. In a condolence message, he said the country had lost a leader who represented an important chapter in its history.
Citing her long political struggle, contributions and the deep public sentiment associated with her, Yunus noted that the government had earlier this month accorded her the status of a “Very, Very Important Person of the State”.
Tributes poured in from political leaders across the region, reflecting Zia’s complex legacy as a pioneering woman leader in South Asian politics. Regional and global reactions underlined her role in shaping Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and influencing its political trajectory.
From the Indian Opposition side, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party president Mallikarjun Kharge offered their condolences.
Zia’s death, confirmed by BNP leadership and her son Tarique Rahman, has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s political landscape. The government has announced a three-day national mourning.
Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh last week after nearly 17 years in exile, is widely seen as the key figure expected to lead the BNP into the upcoming elections.
In an emotional statement, her son and BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman said his mother had “responded to the call of Almighty Allah and left us today”. "To me, Khaleda Zia was a tender and loving mother who devoted her entire life to the country and its people. She stood firm against autocracy, fascism and domination, leading the struggle for freedom, sovereignty and the restoration of democracy," Rahman said.
Recalling years of political persecution, he said she endured repeated arrests, denial of medical care and prolonged confinement, yet never lost her resolve. “Her resilience was not loud, but it was unbreakable,” he said, adding that in losing her husband and a child, “the nation became her family, her purpose, her very soul”.
