Dhaka, Dec 30: Bangladesh mourns the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80. Her son, Tarique Rahman, had returned from self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom during Christmas to contest elections and be at her bedside.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she led as chairperson, confirmed her passing. Khaleda Zia had been admitted on November 23 with severe heart and lung infections and was also suffering from pneumonia, which worsened in recent weeks. Her funeral is scheduled to be held at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Wednesday.
Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics. As the widow of Gen. Ziaur Rahman, a freedom fighter and former president, she rose from a housewife to become Bangladesh’s first female prime minister through democratic elections. She served three terms—1991–1996, 2001–2006—shaping the nation’s governance while remaining a central figure in the country’s polarised political landscape.
Her leadership was defined by resilience against military rule and her long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, which influenced Bangladesh’s politics for decades. Notable achievements include overseeing the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991 and institutionalising a caretaker government for free elections through the 13th Amendment, though her later years were marred by legal battles, imprisonment, and political isolation.
While she remains a revered figure for her supporters, critics cite alliances with conservative Islamist parties and perceived complacency during the rise of extremist groups as controversial aspects of her legacy. Analysts suggest that her passing may strengthen voter sympathy for the BNP ahead of upcoming elections.
Reflecting on her journey, exiled author Taslima Nasrin described Zia’s rise from a housewife to a three-term prime minister as “meteoric” and highlighted the complex, often polarising, nature of her political career. Former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Riva Ganguly Das, called her death “the end of an era,” noting that India had maintained diplomatic engagement with her even during opposition periods.
Khaleda Zia leaves behind a Bangladesh still grappling with the political divisions, questions of democratic opposition, and the delicate balance between compromise and confrontation that defined her life. Her enduring presence in public memory reflects both her role in shaping Bangladesh’s democracy and the controversies that accompanied her tenure.