Kathmandu: Zia, a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics, made history in 1991 when she became the country’s first woman prime minister after leading her party to victory in the first democratic elections held in two decades.
Doctors treating her said earlier this week that her condition had become extremely critical. She was placed on life support, but given her advanced age and multiple health complications, doctors said it was not possible to administer several treatments simultaneously.
Despite her declining health, her party had previously announced that Zia planned to contest the general elections expected in February—an election that would have been the first since a popular uprising ousted her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina.
For decades, Bangladeshi politics was shaped by the intense rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, with the two women alternating between power and opposition and dominating the nation’s political landscape.
“Our beloved leader is no longer with us. She passed away at 6am this morning,” the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Following the announcement, large crowds gathered outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where Zia had been receiving treatment. Police were seen attempting to control the crowds and prevent them from entering the hospital premises.
Khaleda Zia first entered public life as the wife of former president Ziaur Rahman. Known initially for her quiet and reserved demeanor, she stepped into politics after her husband was assassinated in a military coup in 1981. Over time, she rose to lead the BNP and emerged as one of the most powerful figures in the country’s political history.
She earned a reputation as a resolute and uncompromising leader, particularly in the 1980s when she refused to participate in elections held under military ruler General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Breaking barriers in a male-dominated political environment, Zia transformed into one of Bangladesh’s most influential leaders.
Her first term as prime minister was widely praised, especially for initiatives aimed at improving women’s education and social welfare. Her government also restored parliamentary democracy by amending the constitution with support from across party lines.
However, her brief second term in 1996 faced criticism after a controversial, opposition-boycotted election. Parliament later approved a neutral caretaker government system before dissolving itself.
Zia returned to office in 2001 and served until October 2006. Her final administration was marked by strong criticism and allegations of corruption, which later became central to her legal troubles.
Over the past 16 years under the Awami League government, Zia remained a powerful symbol of opposition to what critics described as increasingly authoritarian rule. She boycotted the 2014 elections after Sheikh Hasina removed the caretaker system designed to ensure fair polls.
Later convicted in corruption cases, Zia was imprisoned—charges she consistently denied, calling them politically motivated. She was released last year following mass anti-government protests that forced Hasina into exile.
The BNP had announced in November that Zia would actively campaign in the upcoming elections. The party is now eyeing a return to power, with expectations that her son, Tarique Rahman, could emerge as the country’s next leader.
Rahman, 60, had returned to Bangladesh only last week after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile in London.
Zia had been hospitalized for the past month, receiving treatment for multiple conditions including kidney failure, heart disease, and pneumonia. Though absent from public life due to her health, she remained a symbolic leader for opposition forces.
In her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus urged the nation to pray for her, calling her a “source of immense inspiration.” After her passing, Yunus described Zia as a “symbol of the democratic movement” and praised her lifelong struggle for democratic values and political pluralism.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, saying he was deeply saddened by her death and acknowledging her contributions to Bangladesh and India-Bangladesh relations.
Khaleda Zia was surrounded by her family—including her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter—during her final moments, according to the BNP.
“We pray for the peace of her soul and request the nation to remember her in their prayers,” the party said.
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