Remembering Khaleda Zia: A Trailblazer in Bangladeshi Politics

Tue Dec 30 2025 06:02:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, leaving a significant impact on the nation's political landscape.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman to serve as Prime Minister, has died at 80, her party announced. Zia's leadership saw her guide the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to groundbreaking electoral victories, marking a pivotal moment in the country's democratic history. Despite a political career fraught with challenges, including corruption allegations, her legacy as a pioneering female leader remains influential.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after suffering from a prolonged illness.

Our favourite leader is no longer with us. She left us at 6am this morning, Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Facebook.

On Monday night, physicians revealed that Zia's health was extremely critical. Despite being placed on life support, doctors indicated that due to her age and overall poor health, multiple treatments were not feasible.

Zia became a symbol of democratic governance when she led the BNP to triumph in the country’s first democratic election in 1991 after a 20-year hiatus. She returned to the prime minister's office in 2001, serving until 2006 when she stepped down ahead of upcoming elections.

Her tenure, however, was marred by corruption allegations and a longstanding rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League. In 2018, Zia was sentenced to five years in prison on corruption charges.

As the widow of Bangladesh’s late president Ziaur Rahman, her political career has left an indelible mark on the nation.