Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's First Female Prime Minister, Dies at 80
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness, according to an announcement from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). She served as head of government during two terms, from 1991 to 1996 and 2001 to 2006.
Her political career was marked by a bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, with the two frequently alternating between government and opposition roles. In 2018, Zia was convicted of stealing approximately $250,000 in foreign donations intended for an orphanage trust but was later acquitted by Bangladesh's Supreme Court in 2025.
Zia's health had been in decline due to advanced liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and chest and heart problems. At the start of 2025, she traveled to London for four months of medical treatment. She had been placed under house arrest in March 2020 on humanitarian grounds due to her deteriorating health.
Zia rose to lead the BNP in 1984, three years after the assassination of her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. She became prime minister after the 1991 elections, which followed a popular uprising in 1990 that ended military ruler Ershad's regime.
The BNP remains a leading contender for the upcoming parliamentary election set for February, with Zia’s eldest son, Tarique Rahman, aged 60 and acting chairman of the party, widely seen as a potential future prime minister.
