All Efforts Fail: Khaleda Zia Passes Away

Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former Prime Minister, has passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'un). She was 79.

The former premier breathed her last at 6:00 AM on Tuesday (December 30) while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Her personal physician, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, confirmed the news of her death.

Family members present at the hospital included her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman (via communication), Tarique’s wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and the family of her late son Arafat Rahman Koko.

Her siblings and extended family, along with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were also in attendance.

A pall of gloom descended on the nation immediately following the news. At the hospital, doctors and nursing staff were seen breaking down in tears.

A Legacy of Struggle

Khaleda Zia’s health significantly deteriorated during the 16-year tenure of the Awami League government, during which she faced prolonged imprisonment and legal persecution.

Her supporters maintain that she was denied adequate medical treatment during her incarceration, leading to chronic complications including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney issues.

Though she was granted conditional release during the COVID-19 pandemic, she remained largely confined to her residence, "Firoza," in Gulshan.

Final Months

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, amid a student-led mass uprising, President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered Khaleda Zia’s full release on August 6.

Earlier this year, on January 7, she traveled to London for advanced medical treatment. After 117 days abroad, she returned to Bangladesh on May 6.

While her condition initially showed signs of improvement, the cumulative physical and mental toll of her illnesses and age left her increasingly frail.

She was most recently admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23, where she remained under intensive care for over a month before passing away this morning.