ALBAWABA- – Bangladesh is observing three days of national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on December 30, 2025, at age 80.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced her passing at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka after a prolonged illness, including advanced liver cirrhosis, diabetes, heart issues, and arthritis.
The interim government declared state mourning, with flags at half-mast and her funeral scheduled for Wednesday at a central Dhaka prayer ground, followed by burial beside her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman. BNP leaders called for peaceful observances, while supporters gathered outside the hospital in grief.
Zia's death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh's polarized politics, defined by her decades-long rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, ousted in a 2024 student-led uprising and now in exile in India.
Released from prison in August 2024 after Hasina's fall and acquitted in corruption cases in early 2025, Zia had signaled intent to campaign for the February 2026 elections, positioning BNP as a frontrunner under interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
International leaders, including India's Narendra Modi and Pakistan's officials, offered condolences, highlighting her role in fostering bilateral ties.
Khaleda Zia, widow of assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, emerged from relative seclusion after his 1981 killing to lead BNP from 1984.
She became Bangladesh's first female prime minister in 1991 (serving until 1996 and again 2001-2006), championing democracy against military rule and economic reforms.
