Former PM of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia Passes Away

Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and three-time head of government, Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away on December 30, 2025, after a prolonged illness, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced. She was 80 and had been suffering from advanced liver cirrhosis along with multiple age-related ailments.

Early Life and Entry into Politics
Khaleda Zia was born on August 15, 1946, in Dinajpur district of undivided India to Taiyaba and Iskandar Ali Majumdar. She entered active politics after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, who was killed during a coup attempt in 1981. She formally joined the BNP in 1982.

Role in Democratic Movement
Zia played a key role in mobilising mass opposition against military rule in Bangladesh. Her leadership contributed significantly to the movement that culminated in the ousting of military dictator H.M. Ershad in 1990, restoring parliamentary democracy.

Tenure as Prime Minister

• First term: 1991–1996
• Second term: 1996 (brief)
• Third term: 2001–2006

Her principal political rival across multiple elections was Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League.

Years in Opposition and Legal Battles
Although out of power since 2006, Khaleda Zia remained a central figure in Bangladeshi politics. She spent several years in jail or under house arrest, yet continued to command strong support through the BNP, particularly among centre-right and conservative constituencies.

India-Bangladesh Relations During Her Tenure
Khaleda Zia was known for a more cautious and often adversarial approach towards India.

• She opposed granting land transit to India’s northeastern states, citing concerns over Bangladesh’s sovereignty and security.
• Her government maintained a firm stance on the Farakka Barrage dispute, which persisted despite bilateral agreements, reinforcing a domestic narrative of resisting Indian demands to safeguard national interests.

Political Legacy
Khaleda Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh politics. Along with Sheikh Hasina, she defined the country’s political landscape for over three decades. Her legacy is intertwined with Bangladesh’s return to democracy, intense partisan rivalry, and debates over civil-military relations and foreign policy orientation.