Begum Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital, Dhaka. She was 80.
The veteran politician, widely known as the "Uncompromising Leader," breathed her last at 6:00 AM local time on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital, according to a statement released by the party.
"With deep sorrow, we announce that the mother of democracy, Begum Khaleda Zia, has passed away," the BNP confirmed in a post on its verified Facebook page at 7:00 AM, requesting the nation to pray for her soul.
The announcement follows a late-night briefing on Monday by Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP’s standing committee, who had described her condition as "extremely critical." Zia had been receiving treatment at the facility since November 23.
Khaleda Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics. She served as the country’s first female Prime Minister and led the BNP through decades of political upheaval.
Her health had been a subject of intense national debate for years, particularly during her incarceration and subsequent house arrest under the previous administration. Supporters and human rights groups had frequently called for her to be allowed to travel abroad for advanced medical care, citing her deteriorating condition.
The BNP is expected to announce funeral arrangements and a period of national mourning later today.
