Khaleda Zia, former Bangladesh PM and BNP supremo, passes away at 80
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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital. She was 80.
The news of her death was shared by the BNP in a Facebook post, which said: “BNP chairperson and former prime minister, Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6 am, shortly after the Fajr prayer.”
Earlier, on December 11, Zia had been placed on a ventilator to give rest to her lungs and other vital organs.
According to a report in The Daily Star, Zia, the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 on the advice of her medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She was also suffering from pneumonia.
Zia had been battling multiple health complications, including heart ailments, liver and kidney issues, diabetes, lung problems, arthritis, and eye-related illnesses. She had earlier undergone cardiac stenting and had a permanent pacemaker implanted.
“It cannot be said that her condition has improved. She is passing through an extremely critical phase,” Dr AZM Zahid said during a briefing held shortly after midnight on Saturday outside Evercare Hospital.
Zia had returned from London on May 6 and had been receiving advanced medical care, undergoing regular check-ups at the hospital, the report said.
The BNP had earlier expressed its intention to take her abroad for advanced medical treatment. However, her physical condition did not permit air travel, following which she continued treatment in Dhaka.
Her death comes at a politically sensitive moment, with Bangladesh preparing for national elections in February 2026 amid heightened tensions following the July 2024 uprising, which led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government and her subsequent flight to India.
Zia’s passing also follows the recent return of her son and senior BNP leader Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh after years in exile. Rahman had left the country after being arrested in 2007–08 and later settled in London following his release. After the fall of the Awami League government in 2024, he was acquitted in several cases filed during that period, paving the way for his return.
Rahman arrived in Bangladesh last week and was welcomed by a large gathering of party leaders and supporters near the airport, in what was widely seen as a major political event ahead of the upcoming elections.
PM Modi condoles Zia's demise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Khaleda Zia. In a post on X, the PM said, "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss." PM Modi further added that as the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh, her significant contributions towards the development of the country, along with India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered.
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