Bangladesh's First Female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Dies at 80

Khaleda Zia, who served as Bangladesh's first female prime minister from 1991-1996 and 2001-2006, died Tuesday at age 80 following a prolonged illness. The 80-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had been battling advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and heart problems. She had traveled to London for medical treatment earlier in 2025 before returning home. Zia's political career was defined by her bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, with the two women alternating between government and opposition roles. She was convicted in 2018 on corruption charges related to $250,000 in foreign donations to an orphanage trust but was acquitted by Bangladesh's Supreme Court earlier this year. Her son Tarique Rahman is considered a strong candidate for prime minister in the country's upcoming February 2026 parliamentary election.