Dhaka, December 30, 2025, Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a prominent figure in national politics, breathed her last at a hospital in Dhaka this morning. She was 80 years old at the time of her death.
The news of the death of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been officially confirmed by her family members and the BNP leadership.
BNP said that Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6am today while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Her condition had gradually deteriorated due to various long-standing illnesses.
Doctors said he was suffering from multiple complex diseases including cirrhosis, heart and lung complications, diabetes, and arthritis, which led to his death.
Khaleda Zia took office as Bangladesh’s first elected female Prime Minister in 1991 and has governed the country three times 1991–1996, briefly from 1996, and 2001–2006.
He was also known throughout the region for his long-standing political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina in Bangladeshi politics. The conflicting politics between the two leaders created a long period of political tension across the country.
The news of Khaleda Zia’s death has caused grief and discussion in the country’s political circles. Her son Tarique Rahman, who is currently the acting chairperson of the BNP, was by the family’s side during this time.
General elections will be held in Bangladesh in February 2026 Khaleda Zia’s political vision and BNP’s future plans were of central importance in the context of that election.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s death is being mourned by officials, political leaders, ordinary citizens and international circles across the country. She will be considered an important symbol of a turning point in Bangladeshi politics.
Source: Click Here