Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics and the country’s first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Zia, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and served multiple terms in office, passed away in Dhaka on 30 December 2025, triggering a wave of national mourning.
Born in 1945, Zia rose to political prominence after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, and became prime minister in 1991. She was one of South Asia’s early female heads of government and played a key role in restoring democratic governance after military rule. Zia’s long political career was defined by her fierce rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, shaping decades of Bangladesh’s political discourse.
The interim government declared a three‑day state mourning period and a public holiday following her death, with large crowds gathering in Dhaka for funeral prayers and the state funeral. Leaders and dignitaries from around the world attended to pay their respects.
Zia’s legacy includes the expansion of democratic processes and efforts to modernize parts of the economy, though her tenure was also marked by controversy and political polarization. She is survived by her son, Tarique Rahman, who now leads the BNP and is expected to play a central role in the party’s future.
Her death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s political history, as the nation reflects on her contributions and complex legacy.
Bangladesh ki rajneeti ki ek pramukh neta aur pehli mahila ministre Khaleda Zia ka 30 December 2025 ko 80 saal ki umr me dehant ho gaya. Zia lambe arse se bimaar chal rahi thi aur unke nidhan par desh bhar me shok ki lehar dikhai de rahi hai.
1945 me janmi Khaleda Zia ne apne pati President Ziaur Rahman ki hatya ke baad politics me kadam rakha aur 1991 me Bangladesh ki pehli mahila Pradhan Mantri bani. Unka safar desh ke loktantrik vaibhav ko majboot karne aur sena shasan ke baad fir se sarkar banane ki ladai me ek mukhya kirdaar raha. Unki lambe samay tak chalne wali rajnitik muqabala Sheikh Hasina se, jo Awami League ki neta hain, Bangladesh ki rajneeti ko deeply shape karti rahi.
Zia ke nidhan ke turant baad Bangladesh me teen din ka rajkiya shok aur sarkari chhutti ghoshit ki gayi. Dhaka me hazaron logon ne janaza namaz me hissa liya aur unko rashtriya sambhram ke saath antim sanskar diya gaya.
Unki zindagi me desh ke loktantra ko majboot karne ke prayason ke saath saath kai kathin rajnitik daur aur vivad bhi rahe. Khaleda Zia ek aise yug ki kendra neta thi jiska asar Bangladesh ki rajneeti par gehra raha.