Exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of her long-time political rival and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, calling her passing a “profound loss” for the country’s political landscape.
Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. The BNP announced that she passed away around 6 am, shortly after Fajr prayers.
In a condolence message shared by the Awami League on X, Sheikh Hasina acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s role in the nation’s democratic journey. “I extend my deepest condolences on the passing of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia,” the statement read.
“As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and for her role in the struggle to establish democracy, her contributions to the nation were significant and will be remembered. Her passing represents a profound loss for Bangladesh’s political life and for the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” Hasina said.
She also offered prayers for Khaleda Zia’s soul and expressed sympathy to her family and party members. “I pray for the eternal peace and forgiveness of Begum Khaleda Zia’s soul. I convey my sincere sympathies to her son, Tarique Rahman, and to the members of her bereaved family, as well as the wider BNP family,” the message added.
Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina were central figures in Bangladesh’s politics for decades, with their intense rivalry shaping elections and governance for nearly 30 years.
The condolence message comes as Sheikh Hasina continues to remain in exile in India following her ouster from power in August last year amid widespread unrest in Bangladesh.