Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, has passed away at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness.
Zia, who became the nation’s first female head of government in 1991, led her party to victory in Bangladesh’s first democratic election in two decades.
Physicians had described her condition on Monday as “extremely critical.” She was placed on life support, though doctors noted that her advanced age and fragile health made it impossible to administer multiple treatments simultaneously.
Despite her failing health, her party had earlier indicated that Zia would participate in the general elections scheduled for February, the first since a revolution ousted her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladeshi politics had long been dominated by the intense rivalry between the two women, who alternated between government and opposition.
“Our favourite leader is no longer with us. She left us at 6am this morning,” the Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced on Facebook.
Following the news of her death, crowds gathered outside Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital where Zia had been admitted, with police attempting to prevent them from entering the hospital grounds.
Zia first gained public attention as the wife of Bangladesh’s former president Ziaur Rahman, maintaining a reserved presence alongside him. After her husband’s assassination in a 1981 military coup, she entered politics and eventually rose to lead the BNP.
Known as an “uncompromising leader” for refusing to participate in a controversial election under military ruler General Hussain Muhammad Ershad in the 1980s, Zia broke through a male-dominated political arena to become one of Bangladesh’s most formidable leaders.
Her first term was praised for advancing women’s education and social development, and her government restored parliamentary democracy through constitutional amendments backed by both parties.
Her brief second term in 1996 drew criticism for holding a one-sided election without a neutral caretaker authority—a measure later adopted by parliament before dissolving.
Zia returned to office in 2001, stepping down in October 2006 ahead of a general election. Her administration faced sharp criticism over corruption allegations.
Over the last 16 years under the Awami League government, Zia emerged as a prominent symbol of opposition against what many viewed as an increasingly autocratic rule.
She boycotted the 2014 elections after Hasina abolished the caretaker government system intended to ensure neutral elections. Zia was later convicted on corruption charges, which she denied, claiming they were politically motivated.
Described as a ‘shy housewife’ who rose to lead Bangladesh in the 1990s and 2000s, Zia was released last year following mass protests that forced Hasina into exile. The BNP had confirmed in November that Zia would campaign in the upcoming elections.
The party hopes to regain power, and if successful, Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, is expected to assume leadership. Rahman, 60, had recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London.
Zia had spent the past month in hospital being treated for kidney damage, heart disease, and pneumonia, among other ailments. Though largely absent from public life due to her health, she remained a symbol for opposition forces.
During her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus urged the nation to pray for her, calling her a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation.”
In a statement, Yunus offered condolences, describing Zia as a “symbol of the democratic movement.”
“The nation has lost a great guardian… Her role in the struggle to establish democracy, a multi-party political culture, and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever,” he added.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, saying he was “deeply saddened” and paid tribute to Zia’s contributions to Bangladesh’s development and its relations with India.
“We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership,” Modi wrote on X.
Zia’s family, including Rahman, his wife, and daughter, were at her side in her final moments, the BNP said.
“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” the party concluded.
