Who Was Khaleda Zia? A Look at the Legacy of Bangladesh’s First Female PM
Bangladesh political icon and former prime minister Khaleda Zia has died at 80 after a prolonged illness. A key leader of the BNP, she shaped the nation’s democracy, led major reforms, and dominated politics for decades amid rivalry, legal battles, and a lasting legacy in Bangladesh’s history.
New Delhi, December 30: Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and a towering figure in the country’s political history, died early Tuesday morning following a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old.
Zia, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away at approximately 6 am at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
According to a statement from the BNP, her health had deteriorated significantly over the last several weeks, leading doctors to place her on ventilator support in mid-December to treat complications including infections in her heart and lungs, pneumonia, and advanced liver cirrhosis. Khaleda Zia Dies: Former Bangladesh PM Passes Away at 80 After Battling Multiple Ailments Including Heart Disease.
Khaleda Zia Political Career
Khaleda Zia’s political journey began under tragic circumstances. Born in 1945, she was the widow of Ziaur Rahman, the former president and army commander who founded the BNP in 1978. Following her husband's assassination in a 1981 military coup, Zia - previously a reserved first lady - ascended to the leadership of the party in 1984.
She became a symbol of resistance during the 1980s, leading mass street protests against the military dictatorship of General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Her "uncompromising" stance during this period earned her a loyal following and eventually led to Ershad’s ouster in 1990.
In 1991, Zia made history by winning the country’s first free and fair general election, becoming Bangladesh's first female prime minister and only the second woman to lead a democratic government in the Muslim world.
Governance and Legacy
Zia served three terms as prime minister (1991-1996 and 2001-2006). Her tenure was marked by significant policy shifts, including:
- Parliamentary Democracy: She played a key role in transitioning Bangladesh from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government.
- Education Reform: Her administration made primary education compulsory and free for girls through the 10th grade, a move credited with significantly raising female literacy rates.
- Economic Liberalization: She initiated several market-oriented reforms, including the privatization of state-owned industries to encourage investment.
Years of Legal Battles
The latter part of Zia’s life was defined by a fierce and often personal rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League. This "Battle of the Begums" dominated Bangladeshi politics for over three decades.
In 2018, Zia was sentenced to 17 years in prison on corruption charges related to the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust. She and her supporters consistently maintained that the charges were politically motivated. Although she was released from prison on executive orders in 2020 due to her failing health, she remained under effective house arrest and was barred from traveling abroad for treatment until the fall of the Hasina government in 2024. Vladimir Putin Residence Attacked by Ukraine? Volodymyr Zelenskyy Dismisses Allegations of Attack on Russian President’s Novgorod House As ‘Fabrication’.
Khaleda Zia: The Final Chapter
Zia’s death comes at a pivotal moment for Bangladesh. In January 2025, the Supreme Court had recently acquitted her of her final remaining corruption charges, potentially clearing the path for a political return. Her son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, returned to Dhaka from a 17-year exile just days ago to lead the party ahead of upcoming general elections.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2025 07:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).