Khaleda Zia: Bangladesh's First Female Prime Minister and BNP Leader Die

Khaleda Zia was a Bangladeshi politician who served twice as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) from 1984 until her death. Born Khaleda Khanam in 1946 in Jalpaiguri, in what was then British India, she became the first woman to lead the country's government.

Zia became Prime Minister on March 20, 1991, after the BNP won the general election, making her Bangladesh's first female prime minister and the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto. Her government passed the 12th amendment, restoring a parliamentary system after 16 years of presidential rule. She served a second term from 2001 to 2006. She reportedly contested 23 parliamentary seats across five elections and won every one.

Zia married Ziaur Rahman, a military officer who became president, in 1960, and he was assassinated in 1981. Their son Tarique Rahman later led the BNP to victory in the 2026 general election. She died on December 30, 2025, at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka at age 79 after a prolonged illness, and she was buried beside her husband after a state funeral.

Achievements: Became Bangladesh's first female prime minister (1991), her government restored the parliamentary system with the 12th amendment (1991), led the BNP since 1984, served a second term as prime minister (2001-2006).

Birth: August 15, 1946 (disputed) - Jalpaiguri, Bengal Province, British India.

Profession: Politician and Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Interesting Facts: Her birth date is disputed: her school certificate lists 1945 and her passport lists August 5, 1946. She claimed August 15, a date linked to the 1975 killings of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family.