Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history and the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has passed away at the age of 80. She died early Tuesday at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving treatment for a prolonged illness. Her death comes at a significant juncture for the nation, with national elections slated for February 2026.

Begum Zia had been hospitalized since November 23, battling a severe lung infection. For years, she contended with a range of health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and kidney complications. Earlier this month, there were reports of her being transferred to London for advanced medical care.

The BNP confirmed the news of their chairperson’s passing, stating that she died shortly after the Fajr prayer. The party has requested prayers for her soul and further details regarding funeral arrangements are anticipated.

Born in 1945, Khaleda Zia married Ziaur Rahman, a former president and army commander, in 1960. Following his assassination in 1981, she stepped into the political arena. She took over leadership of the BNP, founded by her husband, in 1984. Her political journey culminated in her becoming the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh in 1991, a groundbreaking achievement that also made her the second woman to hold such a post in the Muslim world. She served two terms as Prime Minister, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.

Her elder son, Tarique Rahman, a prominent BNP leader, recently returned to Bangladesh after a period of exile in London. He had left the country following his arrest in 2007-2008. His return was facilitated by the removal of the previous government. He had also visited his mother at the hospital shortly after his arrival.