Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died at the age of 80 after suffering from a prolonged illness.
Our favourite leader is no longer with us. She left us at 6am this morning, Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Facebook.
Physicians had previously stated that Zia's condition was extremely critical. She had been on life support; however, multiple treatments were deemed unfeasible due to her age and overall poor health.
Assuming office in 1991, Zia was a trailblazer in Bangladeshi politics, securing her position as the country's first female head of government after a major electoral victory. She returned to the prime ministership in 2001 but stepped down in October 2006 before the following general elections.
Throughout her career, Zia faced numerous challenges, including corruption allegations and a longstanding rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, who recently was ousted from the premiership. Her legacy is complex, marked by both her contributions to the nation and controversies that marred her political journey, including a five-year prison sentence she served beginning in 2018 for corruption-related charges.
