Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 80. According to the BNP, she died while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
The party stated that Khaleda Zia breathed her last at around 6:00 a.m. local time, shortly after the Fajr prayer. Confirming her death through its official Facebook page, the BNP urged people to pray for the peace of her soul.
Khaleda Zia had been admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 due to a lung infection. She had long been suffering from multiple health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney-related problems. Earlier this month, she was flown to London for advanced medical treatment.
Her death comes at a politically sensitive time for Bangladesh, as the country is preparing for national elections scheduled for February 2026. Political tensions have remained high following last year’s “July Movement.”
Khaleda Zia’s passing occurred shortly after her son and senior BNP leader Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh. Rahman had been living in London since leaving the country following his arrest in 2007–08. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year, he was cleared of several cases filed against him during the Awami League’s rule, paving the way for his return.
When Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh last week, he was welcomed by a large crowd of party leaders and supporters near the airport, an event widely seen as politically significant in the context of the upcoming elections. After returning home, he visited his mother at Evercare Hospital.
The BNP said that further details regarding Khaleda Zia’s funeral rites and official programs will be announced later.
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