Dhaka: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. She died at 6:00 am while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, according to a statement issued by the BNP.
Khaleda Zia, the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, served the country three times and remained one of the most influential and polarising figures in its political history.
Cause of Death and Health Condition
Zia had been hospitalised for 36 days since November 23 due to serious complications involving her heart and lungs. She was also suffering from pneumonia, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic kidney, cardiac, pulmonary, and eye conditions.
Her treatment was supervised by a multinational medical team from Bangladesh, the UK, the US, China, and Australia. Plans to take her abroad for advanced treatment earlier this month were abandoned due to her fragile health.
PM Narendra Modi Expresses Condolences
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Khaleda Zia’s death.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Her contributions to Bangladesh and India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered,” Modi said in a post on X.
He also recalled meeting her in Dhaka in 2015 and extended condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh.
Early Life and Education
Khaleda Zia was born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, then part of British India (now West Bengal). After the Partition of 1947, her family moved to Dinajpur, East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
She completed her schooling at Dinajpur Missionary School and Dinajpur Girls’ School, later studying at Surendranath College. In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman, then an officer in the Pakistan Army.
Entry into Politics After Ziaur Rahman’s Assassination
Ziaur Rahman, a key leader of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and founder of the BNP, was assassinated in 1981. Following his death, Khaleda Zia—who had no prior political experience—entered politics to save the party from collapse.
She became BNP vice-president in 1984 and was elected party chairperson the same year.
Role in Restoring Democracy
Khaleda Zia joined hands with Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, to lead a mass movement that ended the military rule of H.M. Ershad in 1990.
However, their alliance soon turned into a bitter rivalry, earning them the nickname “The Battling Begums.”
Three-Time Prime Minister of Bangladesh
First Term (1991–1996)
- Won the 1991 general election
- Became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister
- Restored the parliamentary system
- Introduced the caretaker government system
- Promoted foreign investment
- Made primary education free and compulsory
Second Term (1996)
- Brief tenure amid election boycotts
- Oversaw constitutional reforms leading to fresh elections
Third Term (2001–2006)
- Returned to power with a landslide victory
- Faced allegations of corruption and militancy
- Period marked by rising Islamist extremism
Controversies and Legal Challenges
Her tenure was marred by:
- Allegations over the 2004 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina’s rally
- Corruption charges related to an orphanage trust
- Accusations she consistently denied, calling them politically motivated
She was jailed in 2018, later released to house arrest in 2020 on humanitarian grounds. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Zia was freed in August 2024.
In early 2025, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court acquitted Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman in key corruption cases.
Family and Personal Life
Khaleda Zia is survived by:
- Elder son Tarique Rahman
- Daughter-in-law Zubaida Rahman
- Granddaughter Zaima Rahman
Her younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, passed away earlier in Malaysia.
Political Legacy
Despite never returning to power after 2006, Khaleda Zia remained a symbol of opposition politics in Bangladesh. Her decades-long rivalry with Sheikh Hasina shaped the nation’s political landscape, often triggering nationwide protests, strikes, and unrest.
She leaves behind a complex legacy—hailed by supporters as a defender of democracy and criticised by opponents for deepening political divisions.