Khaleda Zia had been battling multiple health issues, including liver complications, and had been receiving treatment in a Dhaka hospital for an extended period
DHAKA: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Dec 30th, 2025) Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80, ending a significant chapter in the country’s political history.
Khaleda Zia had been battling multiple health issues, including liver complications, and had been receiving treatment in a Dhaka hospital for an extended period. She died at 6:00 am local time.
Doctors had described her condition as critical a day before her death. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, a member of the medical board treating her, said that Khaleda Zia had been on life support and was receiving regular dialysis. He added that her condition worsened whenever dialysis was paused. Due to her advanced age and the complexity of her illnesses, it was impossible to treat all her conditions simultaneously.
Khaleda Zia, a prominent political figure, served as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. She was the country’s first female Prime Minister and the second woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto. She was also the widow of former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman.
Throughout her political career, Khaleda Zia faced corruption allegations and served a five-year prison sentence in 2018. She had a long-standing political rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down from office last year.
Her son, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile. His return coincides with a crucial period ahead of upcoming national elections. Tarique Rahman had left Bangladesh in 2008 following an 18-month prison term due to health and other reasons.
