Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, according to BBC World. Zia, a central figure in Bangladeshi politics for decades and an arch-rival of Sheikh Hasina, passed away just months before the country's general elections scheduled for February.

Zia's political career began after the assassination of her husband, then-president Ziaur Rahman. She led her party to victory in 1991, becoming the nation's first female prime minister. Her career was marked by a bitter feud with Hasina, and included periods of imprisonment and house arrest, BBC World reported.

Her death raises questions about the upcoming general elections in February, according to multiple news sources via BBC World. Zia had intended to run for parliament in the upcoming election, the first since a popular revolution in late 2024 unseated Hasina, according to BBC World.

Zia's legacy is complex, defined by both her historic achievement as the country's first female prime minister and her long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. Further details regarding funeral arrangements and the impact of her death on the political landscape are expected to be released in the coming days.