President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has expressed his deepest condolences following the demise of the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia.
In a message shared on social media, the President conveyed his sympathies to the government and the people of Bangladesh on the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia. He also prayed for Almighty Allah to grant patience and strength to her bereaved family during this difficult time.
Begum Khaleda Zia passed away early yesterday morning while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, following a long period of illness. Her passing was confirmed by her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and various Bangladeshi media outlets. She was 80 years old at the time of her demise.
She passed away at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital, where she was most recently being treated for a lung infection.
In 2018, during the administration of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—who was recently ousted following large-scale unrest in Bangladesh—Khaleda Zia was imprisoned on corruption charges. Despite her declining health, she was denied permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. She was released from custody last year following the collapse of Hasina’s government.
Khaleda Zia made history in 1991 by winning Bangladesh’s first free and fair democratic election, becoming the nation’s first female Prime Minister. Following her electoral victory, she was instrumental in transitioning Bangladesh’s system of government from a presidential to a parliamentary system.
Born in 1945, Khaleda Zia had been battling multiple health issues in her final days, including liver and heart ailments, as well as diabetes.
