The first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, has passed away at the age of 80. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Her party — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — announced this news. The politician died after a long and serious illness.
According to doctors, she suffered from liver cirrhosis, diabetes, and heart-related problems. Khaleda Zia won the elections held in 1991 and served as the first female Prime Minister in the history of Bangladesh.
For many years, she competed politically with Sheikh Hasina, and this rivalry had a significant impact on the country's politics. The conflict between the two leaders remained one of the main topics in Bangladesh's political life.
During her tenure as Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia implemented a number of reforms in the country. She introduced the parliamentary system, created favorable conditions to attract foreign investments, and made primary education free and compulsory.
However, her second term in office was also remembered for allegations of corruption. In recent years, due to deteriorating health, Khaleda Zia stayed away from political activities.
She was held in prison and under house arrest for several years and was released in 2024. Khaleda Zia's death marks the end of an important era in Bangladesh's politics.
