Bangladesh’s Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Dies at 80

30/12/2025

DHAKA, Dec 30: Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in the country’s political history and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. She was 80.

According to a statement issued by the BNP, Zia died at 6:00 a.m. while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

She had been hospitalized for 36 days since November 23, suffering from infections affecting her heart and lungs, along with pneumonia, the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star reported.

“The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m., shortly after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the party said in its statement. “We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul.”

Khaleda Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister of Bangladesh, had been battling multiple chronic health conditions for several years. These included liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and long-standing complications involving her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyesight. Her medical care was overseen by a team of specialists from Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Australia.

Earlier this month, efforts were made to transfer her abroad for advanced treatment, but the plan could not be carried out due to her critical health condition.

Zia is survived by her elder son Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter Zaima Rahman. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after 17 years in exile. Her younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, passed away several years ago in Malaysia.