Ex-Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia Dies At 80

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Begum Khaleda Zia, is dead.

Zia died on Monday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

The BNP announced that Zia passed away at about 6 am (0000 GMT), shortly after the Fajr prayer, urging supporters and citizens to pray for the repose of her soul.

Zia, who served as Bangladesh’s prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2009, made history as the country’s first female prime minister and one of the earliest female leaders in the Muslim world.

Her death comes at a critical political moment, with the BNP widely regarded as a frontrunner ahead of the country’s next general election scheduled for February 2026.

Zia had earlier indicated her intention to contest the poll.

She had been imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges which she described as politically motivated under the government of her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina.

Zia was released in 2024 following a student-led uprising that ousted Hasina from power. In January 2025, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court acquitted her of the remaining corruption charges.

Zia reportedly suffered from multiple health challenges, including advanced liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and heart-related complications.

Tributes have poured in from within Bangladesh and across the world. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described her as “a great guardian” of the nation, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and China’s ambassador to Bangladesh also expressed condolences.

The BNP has declared seven days of mourning, with black flags to be flown at party offices nationwide and special prayers to be held in her honour.