Married at 15, Khaleda Zia broke through power ranks to become first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh

The BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m., shortly after the Fajr prayer. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul. pic.twitter.com/KY2948UPD5

— Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) December 30, 2025

Who was Khaleda Zia?

Khaleda Zia was born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, then part of British India. Her family moved to Dinajpur, East Bengal (now Bangladesh) after the partition in 1947. She was the second of three sisters and two brothers. Her father, Iskandar Mazumder, was a tea trader, and her mother, Tayeba Mazumder, a homemaker.

At the age of 15, Khaleda married Ziaur Rahman, a young army officer who would later become a key leader in Bangladesh’s independence struggle. During the 1971 Liberation War, Ziaur Rahman rebelled against Pakistani forces and helped secure the independence of Bangladesh.

Rise in Politics

Following her husband’s assassination in 1981, Khaleda Zia, who had previously kept a low public profile, entered politics to lead his party, the BNP. She was elected vice-chairperson in 1984 and became chairperson later that year. She organised campaigns for democracy during nine years of military rule, often facing house arrest while mobilising mass rallies and protests.

In 1991, following the end of military rule, BNP won the parliamentary elections, and Khaleda Zia became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister. Her government restored the parliamentary system and introduced reforms in education, administration, and the economy. She made primary schooling free and mandatory and worked to improve access to education for girls.

Terms as Prime Minister

• First Term (1991–1996): Introduced major economic reforms, restructured local government, and restored parliamentary governance. Lost the 1996 election to Sheikh Hasina.
• Second Term (19, February,1996 – 30, March, 1996): This term is often referred to as a “caretaker government” period, but in this case, it was a short-lived government formed by Khaleda Zia’s party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), after they won the February 1996 general election, which was boycotted by the main opposition party, the Awami League.
• Third Term (2001–2006): Formed an alliance with Islamist parties and won nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats. Introduced a constitutional amendment reserving 45 seats for female MPs and promoted girls’ education. Her administration faced allegations of corruption and a rise in militant activity.

Legal Battles and Imprisonment

After stepping down in 2006 amid political unrest, Khaleda Zia was arrested in 2007 on charges of extortion and corruption. Her great political rival, Sheikh Hasina, faced similar charges at the time. In 2018, she was convicted and jailed for embezzling funds from an orphanage trust. She was later moved to hospital for treatment of severe arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues, before being released on humanitarian grounds.

In 2024, following widespread protests and the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Khaleda Zia was freed, her bank accounts were unfrozen, and travel restrictions were lifted. In January 2025, she was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Family and Legacy

She is survived by her elder son, Tarique Rahman, who returned from a 17-year exile in London in December 2025 and is widely regarded as the likely successor to lead the BNP. Her younger son, Arafat “Koko” Rahman, passed away in 2015.

Khaleda Zia’s political life was defined by her long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, alternating between government and opposition for two decades, and her role in restoring democracy after years of military rule. She remains a historic figure as Bangladesh’s first female leader and a pioneer for women in politics.

Khaleda Zia had long battled multiple health issues, including cirrhosis of the liver, kidney damage, pneumonia, arthritis, diabetes, and heart and lung complications. She had been admitted to Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, on 23 November 2025, where she passed away on 30 December at 6 AM, according to the BNP.

Her party urged supporters to pray for her soul. “The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 am, just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the statement said.

“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul.”
“She dedicated her life to Bangladesh’s democracy and the BNP, and her legacy will live on through her party and her children.”

(With inputs from agencies)