Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80 in Dhaka

Bangladesh's three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was the first female PM of the country.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away early Tuesday (December 30, 2025) morning in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old.

The BNP confirmed her death in an official Facebook post, stating:

“Our beloved leader is no longer with us. She passed away at 6:00 AM today (December 30, 2025) .”

Khaleda Zia died while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, where she had been admitted for nearly a month. Physicians had earlier described her condition as “extremely critical”, citing kidney damage, heart disease, pneumonia, and multiple age-related complications. She was placed on life support, but doctors said it was not possible to administer multiple treatments simultaneously due to her frail health.

India, Bangladesh Leaders Express Condolences

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over Khaleda Zia’s passing. In a post on X, he said:

“Deeply saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her contributions to the nation’s development and to India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered.”

Mr Modi recalled his meeting with Khaleda Zia in Dhaka in 2015 and added that he hoped her vision and legacy would continue to guide the partnership between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also paid tribute, calling her a “symbol of the democratic movement” and a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation.”In an official statement, Yunus said:

“The nation has lost a great guardian. Her role in establishing democracy, multi-party political culture, and people’s rights will be remembered forever.”

State Mourning Announced, Funeral on Wednesday

Following her death, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced:

• Three days of State Mourning

• One-day general holiday on the day of her Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers)

In a televised address, Yunus urged citizens to maintain discipline and cooperate with authorities during funeral and mourning observances.

Crowds of BNP supporters gathered outside Evercare Hospital shortly after news of her death broke.

A Defining Figure in Bangladesh Politics

Khaleda Zia, popularly known as “Begum Zia”, served as Prime Minister during:

• 1991–1996

• A brief term in 1996

• 2001–2006

Along with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she dominated Bangladesh’s political landscape for over 35 years, a rivalry famously termed the “Battle of the Begums.”

She was the wife of Ziaur Rahman, a former military officer who became President of Bangladesh in 1977 after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. After Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in a military coup in 1981, Khaleda Zia entered politics and assumed leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1984.

Role in Restoring Democracy and Political Reforms

Initially a political novice, Khaleda Zia led the pro-democracy movement against military ruler General Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who had seized power in 1982.

After nearly eight years of protests, she joined hands with her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina to oust Ershad in 1990, a moment that reshaped Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.

After winning the 1991 elections, she became Prime Minister and presided over major reforms:

• Restored parliamentary democracy from presidential rule

• Introduced Value Added Tax (VAT) in 1991

• Made secondary education free for girls in rural areas

• Institutionalised the caretaker government system to ensure neutral elections

Her first term was widely praised for women’s education and social development.

Controversies, India Relations and Security Concerns

Khaleda Zia’s later political career was marked by controversy. During her 2001–2006 term, allegations emerged that her son Tarique Rahman effectively ran the government from Hawa Bhaban, where major political and business deals were allegedly struck.

Her relationship with India deteriorated during this period as anti-India terrorist and insurgent groups, including those affecting India’s Northeast, were alleged to have operated freely in Bangladesh after BNP allied with Jamaat-e-Islami.

India welcomed Sheikh Hasina’s return to power in 2008, which was followed by a crackdown on anti-India activities.

Navigating Hindu–Muslim Politics

Khaleda Zia governed Bangladesh during sensitive periods in India, including:

• Babri Masjid demolition (1992)

• Gujarat riots (2002)

In a 2014 interview, she stated:

“When the Babri Masjid demolition took place, I was Prime Minister. We immediately clamped down on elements trying to incite communal tension. We blocked TV coverage and guarded the Hindu community.”

She later met Prime Minister Modi during his 2015 Bangladesh visit.

Political Setbacks and Years in Prison

A major turning point came in 2013, when Khaleda Zia boycotted national elections after Sheikh Hasina abolished the caretaker government system. The decision was later viewed by many as a political blunder.

From 2014 to 2024, BNP leaders and activists faced intense crackdowns. Khaleda Zia was jailed, denied political space, and prevented from holding protests.

In 2018, she was convicted in corruption cases linked to the Zia Orphanage Trust and imprisoned at the abandoned Old Dhaka Central Jail. Though conditionally released in 2020 during COVID-19, she remained confined to her home in Gulshan.

She was allowed to travel abroad for treatment only after Sheikh Hasina lost power in late 2024, following a student-led uprising supported by BNP and Jamaat activists.

Final Days and Family Presence

Khaleda Zia had been hospitalised for the last month. Physicians said her condition worsened rapidly in recent weeks. Her son Tarique Rahman, who returned to Dhaka on December 25, 2025, was by her side, along with his wife and daughter, during her final moments.

BNP said:

“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers.”

Political Legacy and the Road Ahead

Despite imprisonment, house arrest, and illness, Khaleda Zia remained the symbol of opposition politics in Bangladesh. In August 2024, after Hasina’s regime collapsed, she called for “rejecting the politics of vengeance.”

The BNP is widely expected to contest the February 2026 elections, with Tarique Rahman likely to lead the party.

Khaleda Zia’s legacy—marked by democratic struggle, political rivalry, reform, controversy, and resilience—will remain central to Bangladesh’s political history.