Bangladesh’s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia dies aged 80
Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, passed away on December 30, 2025, at age 80 after a prolonged illness.
She died at 6:00 AM at Evercare or Apollo Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been treated for 36 days since November 23 for heart and lung infections, amid chronic conditions like liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and issues with kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes.
Khaleda Zia chaired the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and served as prime minister from 1991-1996 and 2001-2006, marking her as the first woman to lead Bangladesh and the second in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto.
Her death occurs amid political transitions following the 2024 student uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina and banned her party from elections, potentially adding uncertainty to the nation’s security landscape.
