Khaleda Zia News: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and President Khaleda Zia has passed away. She breathed her last at the age of 80.

Khaleda Zia Passes Away: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has passed away. She breathed her last at the age of 80. She had been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment in hospital. Khaleda Zia was a prominent leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The news of her death was shared through the official Facebook page of the BNP Media Cell.

She had been suffering from chest infection, liver, kidney, diabetes, arthritis and eye-related problems for the past several years. Her family members and senior party leaders have confirmed her death. Khaleda Zia had served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice, first from 1991 to 1996 and second from 2001 to 2006. She was the wife of former President Ziaur Rahman. Her elder son and BNP Executive Chairman Tarique Rahman had been living in London since 2008 and returned to Bangladesh this month. Her younger son Arafat Rahman died of a heart attack in 2025.

In 2018, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

On February 8, 2018, a Dhaka special court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison for embezzling government funds in the name of the Zia Orphanage Trust. Khaleda's son, Tarique Rahman, and five other accused were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined 21 million Bangladeshi taka. Tarique Rahman and two other accused fled after the verdict.

Khaleda Zia challenged this decision in the High Court, where, during a hearing on October 30, 2018, her sentence was increased to 10 years. She then challenged the sentence directly in the Supreme Court through leave to appeal. However, the case remained pending for nearly five years due to legal proceedings.

Released after Sheikh Hasina left the country

Khaleda Zia was released on August 6, 2024, a day after Sheikh Hasina's coup. She then went to London for better treatment. After nearly four months there, she returned to Bangladesh on May 6.

Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice, from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. She was the wife of former President Ziaur Rahman. Her elder son, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the BNP, has been living in London since 2008. Her younger son, Arafat Rahman, died of a heart attack in 2025.

 PC: NavBharatlive