Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia Dies At 80 In Dhaka After Prolonged Illness | World News

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia died while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka earlier today. According to a post on the verified Facebook page of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia died around 6:00 am, shortly after the morning prayers. The death of Zia, who was expected to participate in the national elections in February despite his illness, came as a shock to both his family and BNP supporters. Just yesterday, his son Tariq Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of exile, filed his candidacy papers from the cities of Dhaka and Bogura.

Khaleda Zia was struggling with several long-standing conditions, including heart complications, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis and kidney problems. He was kept under intense observation at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, where both local and international specialist doctors supervised his treatment. According to the information obtained, Zia was admitted to Evercare on the night of November 23, upon the recommendation of the medical board, after he was diagnosed with an infection in his heart and lungs. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the CCU for continuous monitoring on November 24. There was a plan to fly him to London but the same could not happen due to his health condition.

Who was Khaleda Zia?

Khaleda Zia was one of Bangladesh’s prominent political leaders and one of the most influential figures in the country’s modern history. She was born in 1945 and rose to national fame after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He later became president of the BNP and played a central role in shaping Bangladesh’s politics for decades.

Leading Bangladesh Twice

She served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice, first between 1991-1996 and 2001-2006, and became the country’s first female prime minister. Khaleda Zia was known for her long-standing political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League; it was a rivalry that defined Bangladeshi politics for more than three decades. His leadership left a lasting impact on the country’s democratic movements and political environment.