According to her party, Bangladesh’s former head of government Khaleda Zia is dead. Zia died on Tuesday morning at the age of 80, said the BNP party.
December 30, 2025, 07:01December 30, 2025, 07:01
Zia was head of government of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. Despite years of illness and imprisonment, Zia announced in November that she would seek another parliamentary seat in the election scheduled for February 2026.
Khaleda Zia in 2012.Image: keystone
Zia was imprisoned for corruption from 2018 under the government of her rival Sheikh Hasina. She was released last year after Hasina resigned following weeks of mass protests. In November Zia was taken to a hospital, but her condition worsened.
Zia’s son Tarique Rahman only returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years in exile. He is considered a possible new head of government. (sda/afp)