In the early hours of December 30, 2025, Bangladesh awoke to the news that Khaleda Zia, the nation’s first female prime minister and a towering political figure, had died at the age of 80. Her passing, confirmed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer at 6:00 am local time in Dhaka, marked the end of an era that saw her rise from tragedy to become a central architect of modern Bangladeshi democracy.
Khaleda Zia’s political journey was anything but ordinary. After her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated during a coup in 1981, Zia entered the political arena, helping to galvanize a mass movement against military dictatorship. According to the Associated Press, her leadership was instrumental in ousting the military regime in 1990, paving the way for Bangladesh’s return to democratic rule.
Her ascent culminated in a historic victory in 1991, when she became the first woman to serve as prime minister in Bangladesh and only the second in the Muslim world. Zia’s tenure, which spanned two separate terms from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2009, was characterized by both significant progress and deep political rifts. She and her archrival, Sheikh Hasina, would go on to define the country’s politics for decades, their rivalry shaping the nation’s trajectory in ways few could have anticipated.
For many Bangladeshis, Zia was a symbol of resilience. Her party, the BNP, described her as a “national leader” and called for prayers for her soul. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus echoed this sentiment during her final days, calling her a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation,” as reported by Deutsche Welle.
But Zia’s legacy is complicated. Her years in office were marked by both democratic reforms and accusations of corruption and political infighting. In 2018, she was imprisoned on corruption charges, which she and her supporters insisted were politically motivated. The legal battles that followed kept her in the headlines, and the drama reached a crescendo in January 2025, when the Supreme Court in Dhaka acquitted her in the last remaining corruption case. This verdict, as noted by multiple outlets, cleared the way for her to contest the upcoming national election scheduled for February 2026.
The acquittal was more than just a personal victory. It represented a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, coming on the heels of a student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Zia, who had been released from prison in the aftermath of the protests, briefly traveled to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. According to her doctors, she suffered from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and persistent chest and heart problems. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party revealed that she had also been battling a chest infection that affected her heart and lungs in the months leading up to her death.
Her time abroad was not without controversy. Prior to her departure, requests for medical travel had been denied at least 18 times by the Hasina government, according to the Associated Press. It was only after the interim government took over in early January 2025 that Zia was finally permitted to leave the country for treatment. She spent four months in London before returning to Bangladesh in May, determined, as ever, to reengage with the political process.
Zia’s planned return to the electoral fray was watched closely by observers both at home and abroad. With her son, Tarique Rahman, now leading the BNP and the party widely seen as a frontrunner, many wondered if Bangladesh was on the cusp of another dramatic political shift. Her death, so close to a pivotal election, has left the nation’s future in a state of uncertainty.
Throughout her career, Zia’s rivalry with Sheikh Hasina was legendary. The two women traded power and accusations for more than a generation, their personal and political animosities often spilling into the national consciousness. According to the BBC, their contest defined Bangladeshi politics, with each woman alternately serving as prime minister and opposition leader. For many, this rivalry symbolized both the vibrancy and the volatility of the country’s democratic experiment.
Yet, Zia’s story is also one of perseverance. Her critics pointed to the corruption cases and political violence that sometimes marred her terms in office, but her supporters saw her as a trailblazer who broke barriers for women and stood up to entrenched interests. As noted by Deutsche Welle, she was not just the first woman to lead Bangladesh, but also the second female prime minister in the Muslim world—a milestone that resonated far beyond her country’s borders.
Her personal life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. The loss of her husband in 1981 could have ended her public life before it began, but instead, it became the catalyst for her political awakening. She built a formidable party, the BNP, and led it through some of the most turbulent years in Bangladesh’s recent history. Her leadership during the transition from military rule to democracy remains a defining chapter of her legacy.
In her final months, Zia’s health deteriorated rapidly. The BNP’s statement on her passing cited a prolonged illness, with her doctors highlighting the advanced state of her cirrhosis and other chronic conditions. The party asked supporters to pray for her soul and remember her contributions to the nation.
As Bangladesh prepares for a crucial election in February 2026, the absence of Khaleda Zia will be keenly felt. Her party, now under the stewardship of her son, faces the daunting task of navigating a political landscape still shaped by her influence. For many Bangladeshis, her death is not just the passing of a leader, but the end of a chapter in the nation’s ongoing struggle for democracy and stability.
The story of Khaleda Zia is, in many ways, the story of Bangladesh itself—a tale of resilience, rivalry, and relentless pursuit of change. As the country looks to the future, her legacy will remain a touchstone for those who seek to understand both the promise and the perils of democratic leadership in South Asia.
