Bangladesh Bids Farewell to Khaleda Zia: The Trailblazing First Female Prime Minister Passes Away at 80.

 In a moment that has left an entire nation in mourning, Bangladesh has lost one of its most iconic and resilient leaders. Begum Khaleda Zia, the country's first woman to serve as prime minister and a central figure in its democratic journey, passed away on December 30, 2025, after battling a long illness. She was 80 years old. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she chaired for decades, announced the sad news, marking the end of an era defined by her unwavering commitment to politics, democracy, and her people.

Khaleda Zia's death came at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving treatment since late November for complications including lung infections, advanced liver cirrhosis, heart issues, diabetes, and arthritis. Despite the best efforts of her medical team, her condition had been critical in recent weeks, prompting prayers and vigils from supporters across the country. Her passing, just after dawn prayers, has sparked an outpouring of grief, with crowds gathering outside the hospital and her residence, remembering a woman who rose from personal tragedy to shape Bangladesh's political landscape.

Born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur district, Khaleda grew up in a time when Bangladesh was still part of undivided India under British rule. She was a quiet, family-oriented young woman who married Ziaur Rahman, a decorated freedom fighter and army officer, in 1960. Life seemed destined for domestic simplicity until fate intervened dramatically. Her husband, who became president and founded the BNP in 1978, was assassinated in a military coup in 1981. Overnight, the shy housewife transformed into a political force, stepping in to lead the party her husband had built and carrying forward his vision of nationalism and multi-party democracy.

Those early years were anything but easy. Bangladesh's post-independence period was chaotic, riddled with coups, assassinations, and power struggles between military rulers and civilian leaders. Khaleda threw herself into the fight against autocracy, earning a reputation as an "uncompromising leader." She played a pivotal role in the mass movement that toppled military dictator H.M. Ershad in 1990, rallying opposition forces and refusing to participate in rigged elections. Her steadfastness inspired millions and paved the way for restored democracy.

In 1991, Khaleda made history by leading the BNP to victory, becoming Bangladesh's first female prime minister—and only the second woman in the Muslim world to hold such a position after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto. Her tenure focused on economic liberalization, attracting investment, and fostering business growth, earning confidence from the country's entrepreneurs. She served until 1996, handing power peacefully after elections.

But politics in Bangladesh has always been fiercely competitive, and Khaleda's greatest rival was Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the nation's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was killed in a 1975 coup. The two women, often called the "Battling Begums," dominated the political scene for over three decades, alternating in power and embodying deep ideological divides. Their rivalry was personal and intense, shaping elections, policies, and public discourse.

A controversial chapter came in early 1996 when Khaleda called elections boycotted by the opposition, including Hasina's Awami League. The BNP swept the polls, but the victory lasted mere days amid protests demanding a neutral caretaker government. Fresh elections in June saw Hasina take power. Khaleda bounced back strongly in 2001, forming a coalition that included Jamaat-e-Islami, a party with controversial ties to the 1971 liberation war. Her second term emphasized pro-market policies but faced criticism over alleged corruption involving her son Tarique Rahman and strained relations with India, including accusations of allowing insurgents safe haven.

After losing in 2008, Khaleda's later years were marred by legal battles. Hasina's government charged her with corruption, cases she and her supporters dismissed as politically motivated vengeance. Convicted in 2018, she spent time in prison before being released on humanitarian grounds in 2020 due to deteriorating health. Her family pleaded repeatedly—at least 18 times—for permission to seek treatment abroad under Hasina's administration, but all requests were denied.

Everything changed in 2024 when massive student-led protests toppled Hasina's government, forcing her into exile in India. The interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus freed Khaleda fully, unfroze her assets, and allowed her to travel to London for advanced care in January 2025. She returned in May, acquitted by the Supreme Court in her final corruption case, sparking hopes of a political comeback ahead of elections planned for early 2026.

Even in frail health, Khaleda remained a symbol of hope for BNP supporters. Just weeks before her hospitalization, she vowed to campaign, energizing her party seen as frontrunners in the upcoming polls. Her son Tarique Rahman, long in exile, returned home days before her passing, a poignant family reunion amid national turmoil.

Reactions poured in from around the world. Interim leader Yunus called her a "symbol of the democratic movement," announcing three days of national mourning and a state funeral on December 31, with prayers before parliament and burial beside her husband. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness, praising her contributions to Bangladesh's development and bilateral ties. Pakistan's leader hailed her as a "committed friend, while even Hasina, from exile, acknowledged her rival's role in democracy as an "irreparable loss.

For ordinary Bangladeshis, Khaleda's story is one of extraordinary resilience. From a grieving widow to a history-making leader who navigated coups, elections, jail, and illness, she embodied the nation's turbulent yet hopeful spirit. Supporters remember her for restoring democracy, empowering women in politics, and standing firm against dictatorship. Critics point to alliances and controversies, but few deny her indelible impact.

As Bangladesh prepares for her funeral, the focus shifts to legacy. With Tarique at the helm, the BNP looks to honor her vision in the coming elections. Her death closes the chapter on the "Battling Begums" era, but opens questions about the country's future stability, unity, and democratic path.

Khaleda Zia's life reminds us how personal loss can fuel public service, and how one woman's determination can alter a nation's course. In markets, villages, and cities across Bangladesh, people are sharing stories, praying, and reflecting on a leader who, love her or debate her, was undeniably a force. Rest in peace, Madam Prime Minister—your fight for democracy will echo for generations.