End of an Era: Former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia Dies at 80

Posted on by Clara Fontain
khaleda zia
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KHALEDA ZIA DIES AT 80: Former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia passes away in Dhaka. Read the full obituary, her historic political legacy as the “Uncompromising Leader,” and updates on the 3-day national mourning period and the 2026 election impact.

Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a towering figure who shaped the nation’s political landscape for over three decades, passed away early Tuesday morning, December 30, 2025. She was 80 years old.

The chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) breathed her last at approximately 6:00 a.m. at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, shortly after the Fajr prayer. Her death marks the conclusion of a historic and often turbulent chapter in South Asian politics, occurring just weeks before the country is set to hold its first national elections since the mass uprising of 2024.

A Final Battle: The Health Crisis of an ‘Uncompromising’ Leader

Begum Zia had been battling a litany of chronic health complications for years, including advanced liver cirrhosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart and kidney issues.

  • The Final Hospitalization: She was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23, 2025, with a severe lung infection. As her condition deteriorated, she was moved to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and eventually placed on ventilator support on December 11.
  • The Last Moments: Doctors described her final state as “extremely critical” due to multi-organ failure.8 Her elder son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh last week after 17 years in exile, was reported to be by her side at the time of her passing.
  • National Mourning: Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has declared three days of national mourning, while the BNP has announced a seven-day mourning period, with black flags to be raised at party offices nationwide.

Political Legacy: From Housewife to ‘Deshnetri’

Khaleda Zia’s journey from the wife of a military ruler to a democratic icon is one of the most remarkable stories in modern politics.

  1. Rise to Power: After the 1981 assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, she was thrust into the political arena. She earned the title “Uncompromising Leader” (Aporshohin Netri) for her relentless nine-year struggle against the autocratic regime of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
  2. Historic Firsts: In 1991, she led the BNP to a landmark victory, becoming the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She served three terms in office (1991–1996, 1996, and 2001–2006).
  3. The ‘Battle of the Begums’: Her career was defined by her fierce and often bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. Together, the two “Begums” dominated Bangladeshi politics for over 30 years, alternating in power until Zia’s imprisonment in 2018 under the Hasina administration.
  4. A Vision for Education: Her governments are credited with pioneering free and compulsory primary education and stipends for female students, significantly raising the literacy rate among girls in rural Bangladesh.

Reactions from a Mourning Nation and the World

Tributes have poured in from across the globe, reflecting her influence on international diplomacy and regional stability.

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus: “The nation has lost a great guardian. Her uncompromising leadership inspired millions to regain their liberty.”
  • President Narendra Modi: “I recall my warm meeting with her in 2015. Her contributions to the development of Bangladesh and India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered.”
  • Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif: “Begum Zia was a committed friend of Pakistan. Her lifelong service leaves a lasting legacy.”
  • The People’s Tribute: Despite the winter rain, thousands of mourners gathered outside Evercare Hospital and the BNP headquarters in Nayapaltan, chanting slogans and offering prayers for the leader they called Deshnetri (Leader of the Country).

Political Impact: An Election Without its Matriarch

Begum Zia’s passing comes at a critical juncture. Only yesterday, party workers had submitted nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies—including her traditional stronghold of Bogura-7—for the upcoming February 2026 elections.

With her death, the mantle of leadership falls squarely on her son, Tarique Rahman. His recent return from exile was seen as a move to revitalize the BNP, but the loss of its matriarch leaves a void that will be felt throughout the campaign trail.

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