Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Gandhi, in a message, highlighted Khaleda Zia’s significant role in Bangladesh’s political journey and offered condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh. Kharge, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, also mourned her demise, acknowledging her important contributions to the nation’s political landscape. Chief Minister Banerjee described Khaleda Zia as a prominent leader and extended her condolences to Khaleda Zia’s family, friends, and followers.
Begum Khaleda Zia, aged 80, passed away early Tuesday morning after battling a prolonged illness. Her party confirmed her demise, stating that she died at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving treatment for over a month. Khaleda Zia, the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the wife of former President Ziaur Rahman, had been struggling with various chronic ailments for years, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and complications affecting her heart, lungs, kidneys, and eyesight. Despite efforts to transfer her abroad for advanced medical care, doctors advised against it due to her fragile health condition.
