Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's First Female PM, Dies at 80; End of an Era

• Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister and BNP leader, passed away at 80 after a prolonged illness.
• She served as Prime Minister three times and led the democratic movement against military rule after her husband Ziaur Rahman's assassination in 1981.
• Her political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, known as the 'Battle of Begums', significantly influenced Bangladeshi politics for decades.
• Zia suffered from multiple serious ailments including liver cirrhosis, lung infection, severe arthritis, diabetes, and heart diseases.
• Her death has caused widespread mourning in Bangladesh, with BNP describing it as an 'irreparable loss' and marking the end of a political era.

Why It Matters: The passing of Begum Khaleda Zia marks the end of a significant political era in Bangladesh.