Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman prime minister, died at the age of 80 on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, File image/Reuters
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Firstpost30-12-2025, 09:48

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's 'Uncompromising Leader,' Dies at 80

  • Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, 80, passed away on December 30 at Dhaka's Evercare Hospital after battling multiple age-related ailments.
  • From a 'shy housewife,' she entered politics after her husband Ziaur Rahman's assassination in 1981, becoming BNP chairperson in 1984.
  • She served three terms as Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister, restoring parliamentary democracy and driving economic growth.
  • Known for her fierce rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, dubbed the 'Battle of the Begums,' she was a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics.
  • Jailed in 2018 on corruption charges, later acquitted, her legacy will be carried forward by her son Tarique Rahman.

Why It Matters: Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female PM, died at 80, leaving a complex political legacy.

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