Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, passes away at the age of 80.

Foreign media reports that Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital Dhaka. She was 80 years old at the time of her death, having been ill for a long period. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has issued a statement that she passed away around 6:00 AM on Tuesday (today).

Doctors stated that Ms. Zia, who was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on November 23 due to a lung infection, suffered from several heart and lung-related ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, and diabetes. Although there were plans to transport her to London by a special flight for further treatment, the attempt had to be abandoned due to her unstable health condition.

Khaleda Zia entered politics in 1981, following the assassination of her husband, Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman. From being a housewife, she entered the country's political arena and became a strong leader who consistently advocated for democracy. She served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice, from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006, and as leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), she led a strong struggle against the rule of her political rival, Sheikh Hasina.

In 2018, while Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister, Ms. Zia was sentenced to prison on corruption charges and was also prohibited from traveling abroad. However, she was released after the collapse of the Hasina government due to public uprisings last year. Bangladesh's current interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, called Ms. Zia a leader who inspired the nation and urged the public to pray for her.

Following Ms. Zia's demise, her son Tarique Rahman, who returned after 17 years in exile, will lead the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNNP) in the general election scheduled for February 12. Political analysts predict that if his party secures a majority, he will become the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.