Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, has died at the age of 80 after a long illness, her party has confirmed.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said Zia passed away at around 6am. Doctors had earlier said her condition was extremely critical and that she had been placed on life support due to her age and poor health.
Khaleda Zia made history in 1991 when she became Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister after leading the BNP to victory in the country’s first democratic elections in 20 years, following a long period of military rule. Her leadership marked a major turning point in Bangladesh’s political history.
She returned to power again in 2001, serving a second term until October 2006, when she stepped down ahead of general elections.
Zia’s political life was shaped by a fierce rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League and another former prime minister. The rivalry dominated Bangladesh’s politics for decades and often led to deep national divisions.
Her career was also affected by corruption allegations. In 2018, Zia was sentenced to five years in prison on corruption charges, which her supporters described as politically motivated.
Khaleda Zia was the widow of Ziaur Rahman, a former president of Bangladesh who founded the BNP and played a key role in the country’s early post-independence politics.
Tributes are expected from supporters and political leaders across Bangladesh as the country reflects on the life and legacy of a leader who broke barriers for women and left a lasting mark on the nation’s political history.
