Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and opposition leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, died on Tuesday following a prolonged illness, her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced.
Khaleda, 80, suffered from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, chest and heart problems, her doctors said.
A Facebook post from the party read: “BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am today, just after Fajr (dawn prayer). […] We ask for the forgiveness of his soul and pray for his deceased soul to all. »
Despite years of poor health and imprisonment, Zia vowed in November to campaign for elections scheduled for February 2026 – the first vote since a mass uprising toppled arch-rival Sheikh Hasina last year.
Zia’s BNP is widely seen as a trailblazer.
But at the end of November, she was rushed to hospital where, despite doctors’ best efforts, her condition deteriorated due to a series of health problems.
During her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus called on the nation to pray for Zia, calling her the “supreme source of inspiration for the nation.”
BNP media chief Moudud Alamgir Pavel also confirmed Zia’s death to AFP.
Zia was jailed for corruption in 2018 under the Hasina government, which also prevented her from traveling abroad for medical treatment.
She was released last year, shortly after Hasina was ousted from power.
There had been plans earlier this month to take him to London in a special air ambulance, but his condition was not stable enough.
His son, political heavyweight Tarique Rahman, only returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years of self-imposed exile, where he was greeted by huge crowds of joyful supporters.
Rahman will lead the party until the February 12 general election and is expected to be nominated for prime minister if his party wins a majority.
