Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, died after a prolonged illness, her opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Tuesday (December 30, 2025).
“The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6.00 a.m., just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the party said in a statement.
“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” it added.
Ms. Zia, aged 80, had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, chest and heart problems, her doctors said.
The former Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s archrivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country’s politics for a generation.
She had faced corruption cases she said were politically motivated, but in January 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted Zia in the last corruption case against her, which would have let her run in February’s election.
Ms. Zia had returned to the country in May after undergoing medical treatment in the U.K.
In early January, Bangladesh’s interim government had allowed her to travel abroad after Sheikh Hasina’s government rejected previous requests at least 18 times.
Ms. Zia was married to President Ziaur Rahman, who was killed during a 1981 coup. She then helped build a mass movement against the military dictator, who was finally ousted in 1990.
She won her first term in 1991 and served again from 2001. Her opponent in that election and several since was Hasina.
Though Ms. Zia had been out of power since 2006 and had spent several years in jail or under house arrest, she and her centre-right BNP continued to command much support.
The BNP is seen as the frontrunner to win the parliamentary election slated to take place in February. Her son and acting chairman of the party, Tarique Rahman, 60, returned to the country last week from nearly 17 years in self-exile and is widely seen as a strong candidate to become prime minister.
