Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and chief of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness. She was 80.
According to party officials, Khaleda Zia had been on a ventilator for several days as her health continued to deteriorate. The BNP formally confirmed her death.
Bangladeshi media reported that Khaleda Zia had been suffering from a severe liver disease and had remained under medical treatment for a long period. Doctors had declared her condition critical a day earlier.
A member of the medical board treating her, Dr Ziaul Haque, stated that Khaleda Zia was on life support and was undergoing regular dialysis. He said that whenever dialysis was paused, her condition worsened significantly.
The doctor added that due to her advanced age and multiple complicated medical conditions, it was no longer possible to treat all ailments simultaneously.
Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, serving from 1991 to 1996. She remained one of the most influential political figures in the country for decades. Her son had arrived in Bangladesh a few days prior to her passing.
Her death marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics, where she played a central role in shaping the country’s democratic journey.
