Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladesh politics and the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has passed away at the age of 80. She died on Tuesday after a prolonged period of illness, having been undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital. Her condition had been described as ‘extremely critical’ recently, with her requiring ventilator support.

The official X handle of the BNP announced her passing shortly after the Fajr prayer, stating, “The BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m. We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul.”

Khaleda Zia’s political journey was marked by significant influence and a fierce rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. As the widow of assassinated president Zia-ur Rahman, she served as Prime Minister for two non-consecutive terms: 1991-1996 and 2001-2006. She was the first female head of government in Bangladesh and led the BNP for decades, solidifying her place in the nation’s history. Her son, Tarique Rahman, the party’s acting chairperson, visited her at the hospital shortly before her condition became dire.

Born in West Bengal in 1945, Zia’s life was deeply intertwined with the political landscape of Bangladesh. She had two sons; her elder son, Tarique Rahman, is the current acting chairperson of the BNP, while her younger son, Arafat Rahman, passed away in 2015. Her political career also saw her facing legal challenges, including convictions in corruption cases in 2018, which she and the BNP maintained were politically motivated. Following the political upheaval and the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, Khaleda Zia was released from house arrest by a presidential order, allowing the BNP to re-emerge as a prominent force.