Bangladesh Mourns as First Female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80

The nation of Bangladesh is in mourning following the passing of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, a towering and controversial figure in the country’s political history. The chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) died on Tuesday at the age of 80, just as her party was preparing for a pivotal election many believed she would contest.

Her death marks the close of a dramatic chapter. For years, Zia battled ill health and imprisonment on corruption charges under the government of her arch-rival, Sheikh Hasina. Released last year after Hasina was toppled from power, Zia had vowed as recently as November to campaign in the upcoming February 2026 elections. In a poignant testament to her enduring political presence, her party submitted nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies just hours before her passing.

“This is an irreparable loss for the nation,” said senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, capturing the grief that swept through her supporters. Outside the Dhaka hospital where she died, mourners gathered in the rain, remembering her as an “unmatched leader.” Supporters like Golam Kibria praised her resolve, noting she “chose prison over luxury,” a sentiment that defined her image as the “uncompromising leader.”

Her life was indeed a testament to political resilience. Serving three times as prime minister, her career was a relentless cycle of dramatic rises and falls, marked by fierce rivalry, legal battles, and imprisonment. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, calling her a “source of utmost inspiration,” stated that “her uncompromising leadership repeatedly freed the nation from undemocratic conditions.”

With her passing, the political torch passes to her son, Tarique Rahman, who recently returned from 17 years in exile. He is now expected to lead the BNP—widely seen as a frontrunner—into the next election as its potential prime ministerial candidate.

Khaleda Zia’s legacy is complex, etched deeply into Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy and identity. To her supporters, she was a guardian and a symbol of resistance. To her detractors, she was a convicted figure mired in corruption. Yet, undeniably, she shaped the destiny of a nation. As Bangladesh reflects on her tumultuous life, her story remains inextricably woven into the fabric of the country’s quest for its own soul.