Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, dies aged 80
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Her death was announced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Facebook at 6am. Physicians reported on Monday night that her condition was extremely critical; she was on life support and multiple treatments were not possible due to her age and poor health.
Zia became Bangladesh's first female head of government in 1991 after the BNP won the country's first democratic election in 20 years. She returned as prime minister in 2001 and stepped down in October 2006 ahead of a general election. Her political career was marred by corruption allegations and a long-standing rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from premiership last year. Zia was also the wife of the late president Ziaur Rahman and was jailed for five years in 2018 for corruption.
