Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest


Khaleda Zia, who became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister in 1991 and went on to develop a bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina as they spent decades trading power, has died after a long illness. She was 80.
Her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said she died after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. She had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and chest and heart problems, her doctors said.
Known by her first name, Khaleda went to London for medical treatment in early 2025, staying for four months before returning home.
Though she had been out of power since 2006 and had spent several years in jail or under house arrest, she and her centre-right BNP continued to command much support.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is currently poised as the favorite to secure victory in the parliamentary elections slated for February.

Her son and the party’s acting chair, Tarique Rahman, 60, returned to the country last week after nearly 17 years in self-exile and is widely seen as a strong candidate to become prime minister.
Since August 2024, after a student-led uprising led to Hasina’s removal, Bangladesh has been run by an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace laureate and microfinance pioneer.

In a significant development last November, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia due to her severe measures against student protests.
Khaleda was described as shy and devoted to raising her two sons until her husband, military leader and then-president Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in an attempted army coup in 1981.
Three years later, she became the head of the BNP, which her husband had founded, and vowed to deliver on his aim of “liberating Bangladesh from poverty and economic backwardness”.

She teamed up with Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding leader and the chief of the Awami League, to spearhead a democratic uprising that successfully unseated military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad in 1990.

But their cooperation did not last long. Their bitter rivalry would lead to the two being dubbed “the battling Begums” — a phrase that uses an Urdu honorific for prominent women.
Supporters saw her as polite and traditional yet quietly stylish, someone who chose her words carefully. But they also viewed her as a bold, uncompromising leader when it came to defending her party and confronting her rivals.
Hasina, by contrast, was far more outspoken and assertive. Their opposing personalities fueled the rivalry that dominated Bangladesh’s politics for decades.
In 1991, Bangladesh held what was hailed as its first free election. Khaleda won a surprise victory over Hasina.

As a result of these efforts, Khaleda Zia became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, making history as only the second woman to head a democratic government in a predominantly Muslim country, following Benazir Bhutto’s election in Pakistan three years prior.

Khaleda replaced the presidential system with a parliamentary one, so that power rested with the prime minister. She also lifted restrictions on foreign investment and made primary education compulsory and free.
She lost to Hasina in the 1996 general election but came back five years later with a surprise landslide win.
Her second stint as prime minister ended in 2006 when an army-backed interim government took power amid political instability and street violence.
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like

Rose Byrne and Jacob Elordi Celebrate Milestone with First Oscar Nominations Amidst Excitement

Rose Byrne is celebrating her first-ever Oscar nomination after securing a spot…
An emergency bushfire warning has been issued for a blaze burning in south-west Victoria..

Emergency Alert: Bushfire Intensifies in Rural Victoria

An emergency bushfire warning has been issued for a blaze burning in…

Tragic Sydney Shark Attack Claims Life of 12-Year-Old Boy: Community in Mourning

A tragic shark attack in Sydney has claimed the life of 12-year-old…
US President Donald Trump

Trump’s Remarks on NATO Troops’ Position in Afghanistan Stir Controversy Among Allies

US President Donald Trump has once again questioned whether NATO allies would…

Authorities Expand Hunt for Triple Murder Suspect, Investigate Possible Accomplices

Authorities are intensifying their efforts to locate Julian Ingram, an accused triple…

Unmasking Food Frauds: How Experts Ensure Authenticity in Your Holiday Feast

As the festive season approaches, along with the anticipation of Australia Day,…
Monash Freeway crash

Eight Teenagers in a Car Collide with Mercedes on Freeway, Causing Vehicle Rollover

An allegedly stolen car, packed with eight teenagers, hit a Mercedes SUV…
Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told media.

Authorities Widen Search Parameters as NSW Gunman Manhunt Enters Day Three

Warning: This article contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous…
Young shark attack victim Nico Antic has died in hospital.

Tragic Loss: 12-Year-Old Nico Antic Succumbs to Injuries from Shark Encounter

Shark attack victim Nico Antic has died in a Sydney hospital. When…

Tragic End for Canadian Backpacker: Coroner Confirms Drowning as Cause of Death

In a recent update from the Coroners Court of Queensland, an autopsy…
Kira-Leigh Rule (left) and Anthea Counsel (centre) co-founded the Pilates teacher-training business TrainMe Education in late 2024. They abruptly parted ways late last year

Intense Legal Battle Erupts Between Pilates School Founders: Unraveling the Cryptic Social Media Clues and Legal Disputes

Two former partners in the Pilates world, who once called themselves a…
Iranian leaders have denied Donald Trump's claims they have halted hundreds of executions.

Iran Refutes Trump’s Bold Claims: The Truth Behind the Alleged 800 Prisoner Pardon

As Iran experiences its most extensive internet blackout ever, activists worry that…