Bangladesh Mourns Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia

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Bangladesh lost one of its most consequential political leaders with the death of former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia at the age of 80. She passed away in Dhaka after a prolonged illness, marking the end of an era defined by democratic transitions, intense political rivalry, and alternating governments in post-independence Bangladesh.

Khaleda Zia was the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and one of South Asia’s most prominent female political leaders. Her death closes a defining chapter in Bangladeshi politics, often characterised by the long-running rivalry between her and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina.

Long Illness and Final Days

Khaleda Zia had been suffering from multiple chronic ailments, including heart disease, kidney and liver complications, diabetes, respiratory disorders, arthritis, and vision problems. She had a permanent pacemaker and had undergone cardiac stent procedures earlier. After receiving advanced treatment in London, she returned to Bangladesh in May, but her condition continued to deteriorate. She was under intensive care at Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, where she breathed her last.

Political Journey and Rise to Power

Born in 1945, Khaleda Zia entered politics after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. She assumed leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1984 and soon emerged as a powerful opposition voice against military-backed regimes.

In 1991, she led the BNP to victory in the first free parliamentary elections after military rule, becoming Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister. She served two non-consecutive terms (1991–1996 and 2001–2006), during which she played a key role in restoring parliamentary democracy, strengthening civilian governance, and shaping early market-oriented economic reforms.

Her political life was dominated by an intense rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, popularly termed the “Battle of the Begums”, which shaped Bangladesh’s electoral politics for more than three decades.

Timeline of Khaleda Zia’s Political Career

1945 – Born in Dinajpur, Bengal Presidency
1981 – Assassination of Ziaur Rahman
1984 – Becomes Chairperson of BNP
1991–1996 – First term as Prime Minister
2001–2006 – Second term as Prime Minister
2010s – Legal challenges and imprisonment
2025 – Passes away at age 80

Implications for Bangladesh Politics

Khaleda Zia’s death creates a leadership vacuum within the BNP, a party already struggling with organisational cohesion and leadership succession. It may accelerate the rise of second-generation leadership within the BNP and reshape opposition politics.

At a broader level, her passing symbolises the gradual fading of the first generation of Bangladesh’s post-liberation political leadership, raising questions about democratic renewal, political polarisation, and institutional stability in the country.

For India and the region, her legacy remains important due to her role during critical phases of India–Bangladesh relations, including cooperation on trade, transit, and regional security.