Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80

Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and senior BNP leader Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. She served as Prime Minister twice, from 1991–96 and 2001–06, and played a key role in restoring parliamentary democracy after military rule. A central figure in Bangladesh’s politics for over three decades, her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina shaped the country’s two-party system. Her death marks the end of a significant political era.