Breaking: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Dies at 79

Melbourne, December 30: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has died while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Her death was confirmed on Tuesday by her personal physician, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain.

According to Professor Zahid, Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6:00 am on Tuesday.

The 79-year-old leader had been suffering for several years from multiple serious and chronic health conditions, including liver and kidney complications, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and recurrent infections.

She was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23. A few days later, on November 27, after developing a lung infection, she was moved from a private cabin to the hospital’s Critical Care Unit.

The BNP had made at least five attempts to take her to the United Kingdom for advanced treatment, but these plans could not be carried out due to her fragile physical condition. Efforts to fly her to London using a special air ambulance provided by the Amir of Qatar also failed, reportedly because of technical and logistical complications.

Amid this critical situation, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, who had been in self-imposed exile for more than 17 years, returned to Bangladesh with his family on December 25 to see his ailing mother.

Khaleda Zia’s health had significantly deteriorated since 2021, when she contracted COVID-19 in May while staying at her residence. At that time, she required treatment in a coronary care unit due to severe breathing difficulties.

In June 2024, she underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted in her heart. She was already suffering from serious heart, kidney and liver diseases, further complicating her condition. She had three blockages in her heart and had previously undergone stent placement. That same month, her liver was also treated through a specialised porto-systemic procedure with foreign doctors flown in for the treatment.

Her last public appearance was on November 21, when she attended the Armed Forces Day programme at Senakunja in Dhaka. Witnesses said she felt unwell while returning home from the event and her breathing difficulties worsened. Two days later, on November 23, she was rushed to hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia.

Her attendance at the Armed Forces Day event despite her frail condition later drew criticism and concern within sections of the BNP, as well as from her doctors, who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction to senior party leaders. During the event, she was seen greeting many guests, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who was present nearby.

Khaleda Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s politics, where she remained one of the most influential and polarising figures for decades.