Khaleda Zia, a three-time Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away at the age of 80 after battling a prolonged illness. Born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, undivided India, she rose to prominence as Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, playing a significant role in the nation’s post-independence history.
Following the assassination of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, she assumed leadership of the BNP, eventually becoming its chairperson. Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister three times, with her tenure marked by complex India-Bangladesh relations and her staunch defense of Bangladesh’s interests.
Known for her adversarial stance towards India on various issues, including transit rights and diplomatic agreements, Zia’s foreign policy choices often heightened tensions between the two countries. Her political career, spanning over four decades, left a lasting impact on Bangladesh’s political landscape.
