Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister and a central figure in the nation's politics for decades, died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Zia's death, announced on [Date - infer from "8 hours ago" if possible, otherwise omit], comes ahead of general elections scheduled for February, raising questions about the country's political landscape.
Zia, the arch-rival of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, first rose to prominence following the assassination of her husband, then-President Ziaur Rahman. She led her party to victory in 1991, becoming the first woman to hold the office of prime minister in Bangladesh. According to BBC News, her career was marked by a bitter feud with Hasina, and included periods of imprisonment and house arrest.
Zia had intended to run for parliament in the upcoming February elections, the first since a popular revolution in late 2024 unseated Hasina. Her passing leaves a void in Bangladeshi politics and introduces uncertainty into the electoral process.
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