Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, dies at 80
Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia took her last breath on Tuesday morning after days of prolonged illness.
New Delhi: Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia took her last breath on Tuesday morning after days of prolonged illness. She was 80. As per the statement released by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda died at 6 am on Tuesday. She was under treatment for the past 36 days since being admitted on November 23 with infections in her heart and lungs. She was also suffering from pneumonia, according to the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star.
“The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 am, just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the party said in a statement. “We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” it added.
Who was Khaleda Zia?
Born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur in East Bengal India(BHARAT) (now in Bangladesh), Khaleda Zia was the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She served her terms in 1991–96 and 2001 to 2006. She was married to Zia ur-Rahman, and had two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman.
Zia ur Rahman was a leader in the fight for the independence of Bangladesh, then part of Pakistan, who has also served as the President in 1977. However, Zia ur-Rahman was assassinated in 1981.
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