Tue Dec 30 06:51:12 UTC 2025: Summary:

Khaleda Zia, the 80-year-old former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the BNP, has died in Dhaka after a long illness. Her longtime political rival, deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, offered condolences, acknowledging Zia’s significant role in Bangladeshi politics as the country’s first female Prime Minister and her contributions to the struggle for democracy. Hasina, currently living in India as a fugitive, also expressed sympathy to Zia’s family, party members, and supporters. Zia and Hasina dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades, leading their respective parties in a deeply polarized environment.

News Article:

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Dies; Rival Sheikh Hasina Offers Condolences

Dhaka, Bangladesh – December 30, 2025 – Khaleda Zia, the three-time former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. The news marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics, where Zia, along with her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina, dominated the political landscape for over three decades.

Despite their fierce political rivalry, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Prime Minister currently living in exile in India, issued a statement expressing her condolences. In a message posted on the Awami League’s X account, Hasina acknowledged Zia’s significant contributions to Bangladesh, particularly as the country’s first female Prime Minister and her role in the movement for democracy. “As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and for her role in the struggle to establish democracy, her contributions to the nation were significant and will be remembered,” Hasina stated. She also referred to Zia’s passing as a “profound loss for Bangladesh’s political life.”

Hasina extended her sympathy to Zia’s family, including her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, as well as to BNP leaders and supporters.

Zia and Hasina, known as the “two leaders” in Bangladeshi politics, have collectively served as Prime Minister for more than 30 of Bangladesh’s 54-year history. Their relationship, often characterized as the “Battle of the two Begums” by foreign media, has shaped the deeply polarized political climate in the country. As Bangladesh approaches the 2026 elections, the absence of Khaleda Zia leaves a significant void in the political landscape.

Read More