Former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80; India Condoles Death of “Trailblazing Leader”

Begum Khaleda Zia, the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the country’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away in Dhaka early Tuesday, December 30, 2025, following a prolonged illness. The 80-year-old leader, who served two terms as PM (1991–1996 and 2001–2006), was a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics for over three decades. Known for her “sovereignty-first” approach, she transformed the nation’s governance from a presidential to a parliamentary system in 1991. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences, recalling her significant contributions to Bangladesh’s development and her role in the complex tapestry of India-Bangladesh relations.