Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80
Dhaka, The Gulf Observer: Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, has passed away at the age of 80, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) confirmed. She had been suffering from multiple health issues. According to the party, she died at a hospital in Dhaka at 6:00 a.m. local time.
Khaleda Zia was the widow of former President Ziaur Rahman and had been battling various illnesses for several years. Her health condition deteriorated sharply on Monday night, and she was placed on life support. However, due to her advanced age and underlying health complications, doctors were unable to treat all her ailments simultaneously.
Khaleda Zia first assumed the office of Prime Minister in 1991 and was re-elected in 2001, serving until October 2006 when she stepped down ahead of general elections. During her political career, she faced corruption allegations and was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018.
She was also known for her long-standing political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the leader of the Awami League, who ultimately left office last year.
Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh just a few days ago after spending 17 years in exile.
Her passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Bangladesh’s political history, as the nation remembers her pioneering role as the country’s first woman to hold the prime ministership.
