Bangladesh’s former prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Begum Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday morning after a prolonged battle with serious health complications. She was 80. Party officials confirmed that she breathed her last at around 6 am while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka.

Khaleda Zia had been hospitalised for over a month after being admitted in late November with severe infections affecting vital organs, including her heart and lungs. Over the years, her health had steadily declined due to multiple chronic conditions such as liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and long-standing complications related to her kidneys, heart, lungs, and eyesight.

A high-level medical board had been monitoring her condition round the clock. The team was led by senior cardiologist Dr Shahabuddin Talukder and included specialists from several countries, reflecting the seriousness of her condition. Despite intensive care and advanced treatment, her health failed to improve.