Khaleda Zia, Pioneering Political Leader of Bangladesh, Passes Away at 80

Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a significant political figure, has died at the age of 80. Her political journey spanned over three decades, during which she alternated between ruling the country and leading the opposition. Zia's life was marked by her struggle against military rule and her historic role as the first woman to serve as Prime Minister in Bangladesh. Her passing closes a crucial chapter in the nation's political history, characterized by her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. Discover more about her impactful legacy and the events that shaped her life.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 30, 2025, 14:47 IST

A Significant Figure in Bangladesh's Political Landscape

Remained at the heart of Bangladesh’s intense political scene for over thirty years

Sunil Chadha
Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, passed away on the morning of December 30, 2025. Her death marks the end of a significant political journey that influenced the nation’s transition to democracy post-military rule. She was 80 years old and had been suffering from a long-term illness. The BNP confirmed her passing at 6 am at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

A prominent yet divisive figure, Khaleda Zia was a central player in Bangladesh’s tumultuous politics for over three decades, alternating between governance and opposition with remarkable determination.

From Imprisonment to Prominence

Khaleda Zia’s political journey began under duress. During the 1971 Liberation War, she was confined to her home by the Pakistani Army while her husband, Major Ziaur Rahman, fought with the Mukti Bahini. Following the country’s independence, she chose to focus on her family, despite her husband’s rising political stature.

Her reluctant foray into politics occurred after the assassination of Ziaur Rahman in 1981, as the BNP, which he had established, faced suppression under military governance.

A Prolonged Struggle Against Military Rule

Entering the political arena in the early 1980s, Khaleda Zia became a key figure in the BNP’s opposition to General Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s regime. Her efforts, characterized by widespread protests and political activism, ultimately led to Ershad’s removal and the restoration of parliamentary democracy.

In 1991, she made history by becoming Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, and only the second woman to hold such a position in the Muslim world, following Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.

Her later years were overshadowed by legal troubles, including corruption charges that resulted in imprisonment. In 2018, she was convicted in several graft cases and spent significant time in custody before her sentence was suspended for health reasons.

After several hospital stays in Dhaka and treatment abroad, her health deteriorated in recent months. Khaleda Zia’s passing signifies the end of a pivotal era in Bangladesh’s contentious political history, long characterized by the rivalry between her and Sheikh Hasina.