Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who many believed would sweep elections next year to lead her country once again, has died of prolonged illness while under treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80. The chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) breathed her last at 6 am on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by her party.
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.
Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, had long been battling multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and chronic issues affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes. Her treatment was being overseen by specialists from Bangladesh, the UK, the US, China, and Australia.
Earlier this month, there was an initiative to take her abroad for treatment, but it could not proceed due to her fragile condition.
