Bangladesh’s First Female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Dies at 80

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female head of government, has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, her party and doctors said on Tuesday.

Zia, who served two terms as prime minister, died while receiving treatment in Dhaka, where doctors had placed her on life support after her condition deteriorated sharply in recent days.

Medical officials said on Monday that her health had become “extremely critical,” citing complications linked to her age and long-standing medical conditions. Doctors said treatment options were limited due to her fragile condition.

Zia became Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister in 1991 after leading her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to victory in the country’s first democratic election in two decades, following years of military-backed rule.

A dominant figure in Bangladeshi politics for more than three decades, she alternated in power with longtime rival Sheikh Hasina, shaping the country’s political landscape through intense rivalry, mass protests and periods of instability.

Despite her declining health, the BNP had earlier indicated that Zia intended to take part in the upcoming general election scheduled for February, the first since the uprising that led to the removal of Sheikh Hasina from office.

Zia’s death is expected to have significant political implications as Bangladesh navigates a fragile transition period following months of unrest.