Begum Khaleda Zia passes away

Staff Reporter: BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has passed away. She breathed her last at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday (December 30), shortly after the Fajr prayer, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. (Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.)The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Media Cell confirmed the information.

Her death was confirmed by her personal physician and BNP National Standing Committee member Prof. Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain.

At the time of her passing, her elder son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, daughter-in-law Dr. Zubaida Rahman, granddaughter Zaima Rahman, younger son’s wife Sharmila Rahman Sithi, younger brother Shamim Eskandar and his wife, elder sister Selina Islam, other family members, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and members of the medical board formed for her treatment were present at the hospital.

Around 7:00 a.m., BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing official Shamsuddin Didar confirmed the details. He also said the schedule for the late leader’s funeral prayers (janaza) would be announced later.

It may be recalled that Begum Zia had been released conditionally in 2020 under a government executive order and had been living with prolonged illness until her death. During this period, she met several distinguished figures from home and abroad, as well as BNP leaders and politicians from other opposition parties.

She was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 this year. The former prime minister spent weeks in the hospital experiencing repeated deterioration and slight improvements in her condition. Earlier, on October 15, she had also been admitted to the same hospital for medical examinations. At that time, her medical board member Prof. Dr. FM Siddiqui told journalists that she was suffering from chest infection and complications involving the heart and lungs.

Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government after the July–August movement last year, President Md. Shahabuddin pardoned Begum Zia under Article 49 of the Constitution. At that time, she was receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital. On January 8 this year, she traveled to London for advanced treatment and returned to Bangladesh on May 6 after four months aboard an air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The same air ambulance was used for her travel to London. Before her departure, Army Chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman met her at her Gulshan residence.

Begum Khaleda Zia was born on August 15, 1945, in Nayabasti area of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, then part of undivided India. Her family name was Khaleda Khanam, and she was affectionately called “Putul,” “Tipsi,” and “Shanti.” Her ancestral home is in Fulgazi upazila of Feni district. Her father was Iskandar Majumder and her mother was Begum Taiyaba Majumder. She was the third among five siblings.

After the assassination of her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, on May 30, 1981, she joined the BNP and was elected party chairperson on May 10, 1984, a position she held until her death.

Begum Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh three times—in 1991, briefly in 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006. Under her leadership, Bangladesh transitioned from a presidential to a parliamentary system through the 12th Amendment to the Constitution.

Following years of imprisonment, illness, and conditional release, she continued to struggle with deteriorating health, including liver cirrhosis, lung infections, and heart complications, requiring frequent hospitalizations both before and after her release.

She is survived by her sons Tarique Rahman and the late Arafat Rahman Koko, along with numerous relatives, party leaders, and admirers. Her death has cast a pall of grief over BNP leaders and supporters across the country.

In her final public appearances, Begum Zia attended state functions including Armed Forces Day events in 2024 and this year, where she exchanged greetings with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

With her passing, Bangladesh has lost one of its most influential and enduring political figures.

(*This report is produced by Bangla Press. Republishing our content, images, or broadcasts in any other media outlet without permission is strictly prohibited.)

BP/SM