Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after suffering from a prolonged illness. Our favourite leader is no longer with us. She left us at 6am this morning, announced Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Facebook.
Physicians reported her condition as extremely critical on Monday night, indicating that she was on life support but could not receive multiple treatments due to her age and health status.
Zia became the first female head of government in Bangladesh after leading her party to victory in the first democratic election in two decades in 1991. She returned to power in 2001 and served until stepping down in 2006 ahead of a general election.
Her political career, however, was marked by a series of controversies, including corruption allegations and a long-standing rivalry with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina. Zia was imprisoned for corruption in 2018, a significant chapter in her political narrative.
Despite the scandals, Khaleda Zia's impact as a pioneering female leader remains a notable aspect of Bangladesh's modern history, shaping her country’s political dynamics for decades.
