Begum Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history and the country’s first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, confirmed that she passed away at around 6 am. local time on December 30, 2025, Tuesday, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital.

Zia had been suffering from multiple serious health complications for several years, including advanced liver disease, heart and respiratory ailments, diabetes and age-related conditions. She had been admitted to hospital in recent weeks after her condition worsened and was placed under intensive medical care.

Her death marks the end of a political career that spanned more than three decades and left a lasting imprint on Bangladesh’s democratic journey.

Khaleda Zia first rose to national prominence after the assassination of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, the former president and founder of the BNP, in 1981. She subsequently took over the leadership of the party and emerged as a central figure in the movement against military rule.

Zia became prime minister in 1991 following elections that restored parliamentary democracy, becoming the first woman to hold the office in Bangladesh. She later returned to power in 2001, serving three terms in total.

Her governments oversaw significant political and economic developments, including reforms aimed at strengthening parliamentary governance and encouraging private investment.

However, her career was also marked by controversy. Allegations of corruption, political unrest and her party’s alliance with Islamist groups frequently drew criticism.

In 2018, she was convicted in corruption cases and spent several years in detention, a period her supporters described as politically motivated. She was released on humanitarian grounds in 2020 amid deteriorating health.

Zia’s long-running rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, leader of the rival Awami League, dominated Bangladesh’s political landscape for decades.

The intense contest between the two leaders, often referred to as the country’s “battling Begums”, led to repeated cycles of political confrontation, protests and deep polarisation.

In recent years, Khaleda Zia had withdrawn from active politics due to ill health, with her elder son, Tarique Rahman, taking over as acting chairperson of the BNP.

Her death comes at a sensitive moment, as Bangladesh prepares for its next general election scheduled for early 2026.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the political spectrum, acknowledging her role in shaping modern Bangladesh and her contribution to the country’s democratic evolution.

Details regarding funeral arrangements and any state honours are expected to be announced shortly.

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