Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister in Bangladesh’s history, has passed away at the age of 80 after a long illness.
As the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, she was a fierce rival to Sheikh Hasina for decades.
Zia spent her final years in prison or under house arrest but retained significant public support.
Her party is currently seen as the frontrunner for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Her son, Tarique Rahman, has returned from exile and is viewed as a strong candidate for Prime Minister.
Khaleda Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics.
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