Three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia passes away in Dhaka after prolonged illness, marking the end of a political era in Bangladesh.
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Bangladesh entered a period of national mourning this week following the death of Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female Prime Minister and one of the most influential political figures in South Asia. She passed away at the age of 79 after battling multiple health complications, according to a statement by her political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Khaleda Zia breathed her last at 6 AM local time at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been admitted since late November due to a lung infection. Her health had deteriorated significantly in recent years, with her medical team citing advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and severe cardiac and respiratory issues.
The government has declared three days of national mourning to honor her legacy, and her funeral is scheduled to take place after midday prayers on Wednesday. She will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Ziaur Rahman, the former president and founder of the BNP.
A Towering Yet Controversial Leader
Often referred to as the “Mother of Democracy” by her supporters, Khaleda Zia played a central role in Bangladesh’s political evolution. Her political journey began not by ambition, but by tragedy. After the assassination of her husband in 1981, Khaleda, then a 35-year-old homemaker, was propelled into the leadership of the BNP.
She would go on to serve as Prime Minister of Bangladesh three times, becoming a symbol of democratic resistance against authoritarian rule, especially during the regime of military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
In 1991, she became only the second woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country, following Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan.
Decades-Long Rivalry with Sheikh Hasina
Khaleda Zia’s political legacy is deeply intertwined with her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The two leaders, often dubbed the “battling begums,” shaped the nation’s politics for over three decades, marked by alternating rule, election boycotts, and political standoffs.
While both leaders were heralded as champions of democracy in their early years, each faced criticism. Khaleda was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges—allegations she claimed were politically motivated. In contrast, Hasina faced condemnation for her authoritarian tactics before being ousted in 2024.
Final Years and Legacy
Khaleda’s final years were marked by house arrest, medical complications, and political isolation. Although she was released in 2020 on humanitarian grounds, she was barred from seeking overseas medical treatment by the then Hasina-led government.
In a dramatic turn of events, Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman were recently acquitted of their earlier corruption convictions by Bangladesh’s Supreme Court. This legal relief came just months before her passing and shortly after Hasina’s overthrow during a civilian uprising.
In a heartfelt statement, Tarique Rahman, who now leads the BNP and is expected to run for Prime Minister in the upcoming February 2026 elections, called his mother “an uncompromising leader and a symbol of national resilience.”
Tributes Pour In
International leaders expressed sorrow at Khaleda Zia’s passing. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and regional cooperation would always be remembered. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded her as “a committed friend of Pakistan.”
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus paid tribute by calling her a “guardian of democracy” and urged the public to maintain calm during national mourning.
Thousands gathered outside the Dhaka hospital where she passed away, reflecting the deep public sentiment toward a woman who was not just a political figure but a symbol of resistance, leadership, and tenacity.
