DHAKA: Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and a towering figure in the country’s politics, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. Her death was confirmed in a statement by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Zia’s long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the nation’s political landscape for decades.
Zia, who had been battling various health issues, was recently acquitted by the Supreme Court in January 2025 in the final corruption case against her. This legal victory had cleared the decks for her to participate in the general elections scheduled for February. During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, Zia’s family had requested permission for her to seek medical treatment abroad at least 18 times, all of which were turned down. It was only after Hasina’s ouster in 2024 that the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, permitted her to travel to London for treatment.
Khaleda Zia entered politics following the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. She played a pivotal role in restoring democracy by leading a mass movement against the military dictatorship of H.M. Ershad in 1990. She first took office as Prime Minister in 1991 and served multiple terms, often marked by intense power struggles and political volatility. Her passing marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s history. (TNIE)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com