US EditionBangladesh's first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, dies at 80
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, died from multiple chronic ailments; 10,000 security personnel ensured order during her state funeral, officials said.
- On December 30, 2025, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced Khaleda Zia died at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka at 6.00 a.m., just after the Fajr prayer.
- Admitted on November 23, Khaleda Zia, BNP chairperson and former prime minister, had 36 days of treatment for infections and was placed on ventilator support on December 11; plans to transfer her abroad were abandoned as she was too unstable.
- Having served as prime minister, Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh's first woman in the role from 1991 and 2001 and remained BNP chairperson until her death.
- The BNP posted on Facebook `Our beloved national leader is no longer with us.` and interim leader Muhammad Yunus called her a `source of utmost inspiration for the nation` while doctors declared her dead, the party said.
- Her long rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined Bangladeshi politics, and Zia was released in 2024 after a student-led uprising ousted Hasina, shifting the 2026 election context.
253 Articles
253 Articles
Bangladeshis Pay Last Respects to Former Leader in Tense Capital
Vast crowds braved an unexpected cold spell in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Wednesday to say goodbye to Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female prime minister, who died a day earlier and whose policies helped shape the country and its economy. As the vehicle carrying Ms. Zia’s body wove its way from her private residence toward Parliament, Bangladeshis lined the streets and waited solemnly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the coffin. Many h…
Bangladesh Bids Farewell: The Legacy of Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh Bids Farewell: The Legacy of Khaleda Zia In a solemn ceremony marked by profound emotion, Bangladesh bid farewell to Khaleda Zia, the three-time Prime Minister and BNP chairperson. Laid to rest beside her husband, Ziaur Rahman, she received state honors as thousands paid tribute.The historic event in Dhaka attracted a multitude of mourners, along with esteemed foreign dignitaries from neighboring countries, who gathered to honor her l…
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