On 30th December (local time), Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia died after a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old. In a statement, the BNP said she passed away at 6:00 am while undergoing treatment in Dhaka.
The BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m., shortly after the Fajr prayer. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul. pic.twitter.com/KY2948UPD5
— Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) December 30, 2025
Describing her as a “national leader”, the BNP appealed to its supporters to pray for the forgiveness of her soul. Zia had been hospitalised for over a month and was suffering from multiple ailments, including advanced liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic heart and chest complications.
Prolonged illness and final days
According to the doctors treating Zia, her condition had steadily deteriorated in recent weeks. She was admitted with severe infections that affected her heart and lungs. She was also suffering from pneumonia. There were attempts to move her abroad for further treatment earlier this month. However, the plans were dropped due to her fragile health.
In May 2025, Zia had returned to Bangladesh after receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom. In early January, the interim government permitted her to travel abroad. She had attempted to travel abroad for treatment during political rival Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, but the requests were repeatedly denied.
A career shaped by rivalry and resistance
Throughout her political career, Khaleda Zia remained a staunch rival of Hasina. Their political rivalry defined Bangladeshi politics for a generation. Zia was married to former president Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated during a coup attempt in 1981. Zia entered politics after his death and went on to lead the BNP.
In 1991, Zia became Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the first time following the restoration of democracy. She served again as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Though she remained out of power after that, Zia retained a loyal support base, even during periods of imprisonment and house arrest linked to corruption cases. While facing the corruption charges, she consistently claimed that the cases against her were “politically motivated”.
Legal relief and political legacy
In January 2025, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh acquitted Zia in the last pending corruption case against her. The judgment cleared the way for her to contest elections once again. Her death comes weeks before a parliamentary election in which the BNP is widely viewed as a frontrunner.
Zia is survived by her elder son and acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman. Notably, Rahman returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in self-exile. He is seen as a leading contender for the prime minister’s post and, in all probability, will attract sympathy votes in the upcoming general elections.
Zia’s death has closed a defining chapter in Bangladesh’s political history, marked by intense rivalry and the enduring influence of two women who shaped the nation’s destiny.
