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News Article:
Bangladesh Mourns the Loss of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
Dhaka, Bangladesh – December 30, 2025 – Khaleda Zia, the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a towering figure in the nation’s turbulent political landscape, has died at the age of 80. She passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, after being hospitalized in late November due to declining health issues.
Zia, who had vowed to contest elections next year, hoped to lead her party for a final term. The announcement came despite facing years of ill health and imprisonment. Her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely viewed as a frontrunner for the upcoming February 2026 elections.
Her death marks the end of an era defined by the bitter rivalry between Zia and Sheikh Hasina, a feud known as the “Battle of the Begums.” This decades-long conflict significantly shaped Bangladesh’s political trajectory, marked by alternating periods of power and political instability.
Zia’s political journey began after the assassination of her husband, Ziaur Rahman. Despite initial doubts about her political prowess, she emerged as a formidable leader, challenging military rule and forging alliances to advance her party’s agenda.
Her legacy remains complex. While lauded for her resolve, she also faced criticism for her uncompromising stance. Her death leaves a void in Bangladesh’s political arena.
Her son, Tarique Rahman (also known as Tarique Zia), is widely seen as her political heir. He returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after years in exile and has signaled his intention to run in the upcoming elections. His presence, alongside his mother’s image on party banners, suggests a potential continuation of the Zia family’s influence on Bangladesh’s political future.
Source: The Hindu
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