Dhaka, 30 December (H.S.):
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the nation's first female leader, passed away at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital after a 36-day battle with critical multi-organ failure following admission on November 23 for severe heart and lung infections.
The BNP confirmed her death shortly after the Fajr dawn prayer, attributing it to advanced liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, respiratory distress, cardiac complications, and aortic valve endocarditis detected via transesophageal echocardiogram.
Physicians led by cardiologist Shahabuddin Talukder, alongside UK, US, Chinese, and Australian specialists, had placed her on elective ventilator support since December 11 to rest her failing lungs amid acute pancreatitis and persistent fever, but her condition remained extremely critical with no improvement.
From Political Titan to Fragile Patient Under Global Scrutiny
Zia, 80, widow of assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, governed Bangladesh thrice (1991-1996, 2001-2006), spearheading economic liberalization before graft convictions led to house arrest until her August 2024 release amid Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Her son Tarique Rahman, BNP acting chair exiled in London for 17 years until recent return, visited extensively; earlier foreign treatment bids failed due to travel risks.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged nationwide prayers, hailing her as the Mother of Democracy pivotal for 2026 elections under interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
Legacy Amid Turmoil and BNP's Electoral Path Forward
Zia's demise deprives BNP of its iconic figurehead ahead of polls, intensifying opposition dynamics post-Hasina amid 281 political deaths and radical pressures. Acquitted of graft in November 2024, she symbolized resilience against Awami League rivalry; her passing prompts calls for state honors despite polarized ties. The party seeks divine mercy for her soul while navigating Bangladesh's fragile transition.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
