Khaleda Zia: The shy housewife who led Bangladesh as its first female prime minister
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Moneycontrol30-12-2025, 08:32

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's First Female PM & BNP Stalwart, Passes Away at 80

  • Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, 80, passed away in Dhaka after medical treatment.
  • She was Bangladesh's first female PM, serving three terms, and led the BNP for four decades.
  • Rose from a 'shy housewife' to a powerful political figure after her husband Ziaur Rahman's assassination.
  • Led the anti-Ershad movement alongside arch-rival Sheikh Hasina, shaping Bangladesh's political landscape.
  • Her later years were marked by legal challenges, including a 17-year prison sentence on graft charges.

Why It Matters: Khaleda Zia leaves a complex legacy as a defining figure in Bangladesh's political history.

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