Khaleda Zia, first female Bangladesh prime minister, dies aged 80

Zia’s archrivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country’s politics for a generation

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose archrivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country’s politics for a generation, has died, her political party said on Tuesday. She was 80.

“The BNP chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6am, just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) said in a statement.