Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister and a towering figure in the nation's political landscape, died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Zia, a long-time rival of current leader Sheikh Hasina, passed away on December 30, 2025, according to multiple sources including BBC World and Al Jazeera. Her death casts a shadow over the upcoming general elections scheduled for February.
Zia, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades, first rose to prominence following the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman. She then led her party to victory in 1991, becoming the country's first female prime minister. According to BBC News, her political career was marked by a bitter and enduring feud with Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister.
Al Jazeera described Zia as one of the most influential figures in Bangladeshi politics. Her career included periods of imprisonment and house arrest. Despite her health struggles, Zia had intended to run for parliament in the upcoming February elections, which will be the first since the popular revolution in late 2024 that unseated Hasina, according to BBC World.
The death of Khaleda Zia raises questions about the future of Bangladeshi politics and the stability of the upcoming elections. Her absence will undoubtedly leave a void within the BNP and could reshape the political landscape as the nation prepares to head to the polls.
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