Politics

An uncompromising life in pictures

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and chairperson of the BNP who was widely known as an “uncompromising leader”, has died. She passed away while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Dec 30, 2025.

bdnews24.com

Published : 30 Dec 2025, 03:31 PM

Updated : 30 Dec 2025, 03:31 PM

Jun 8, 2006: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia stands with then finance minister M Saifur Rahman at the National Parliament ahead of the presentation of the 2006–07 budget. Photo: PID

Dec 23, 2006: Khaleda Zia pictured with her elder son, Tarique Rahman.

Dec 19, 2006: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia attends a four-party alliance rally at Paltan Maidan in Dhaka. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Dec 19, 2006: Amid intense political unrest, Khaleda Zia waves to supporters at the four-party rally at Paltan Maidan. BNP leaders Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami are also on the stage. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

May 30, 2007: During the state of emergency, Khaleda Zia pays tribute at the grave of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, on his death anniversary at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

May 30, 2007: Khaleda Zia attends a prayer gathering at Ziaur Rahman’s grave. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Sept 3, 2007: Following her arrest during the state of emergency, Khaleda Zia is taken to the special jail inside the National Parliament complex after being produced before a court. Photo: Qamruzzaman

Sept 11, 2008: Khaleda Zia waves to supporters outside PG Hospital following her release. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Sept 11, 2008: After a year in detention, Khaleda Zia is released from jail and visits PG Hospital to see her elder son Tarique Rahman. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Sept 11, 2008: Khaleda Zia visits the grave of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, as supporters gather around her vehicle. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Dec 22, 2008: Ahead of the ninth parliamentary election, Khaleda Zia hands over the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, to party candidate M Saifur Rahman at a rally in Sylhet.

Dec 22, 2008: Ahead of the ninth parliamentary election, Khaleda Zia hands over the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, to party candidate M Saifur Rahman at a rally in Sylhet. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Dec 27, 2008: Khaleda Zia displays the BNP’s election symbol at a four-party alliance rally at Paltan Maidan. Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Dec 29, 2008: Khaleda Zia casts her vote at the Adamjee Cantonment College centre during the ninth parliamentary election. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Nov 13, 2010: After being evicted from her residence on Moinul Road inside the cantonment, Khaleda Zia breaks down during a press briefing at the BNP office in Gulshan. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Jul 20, 2013: Khaleda Zia attends a Jamaat-e-Islami iftar gathering at Hotel Inter Continental in Dhaka. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Oct 25, 2013: Khaleda Zia attends an 18-party alliance rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Photo: Nayan Kumar

Dec 29, 2013: As Dhaka remains paralysed amid BNP’s “March to Dhaka” programme, Khaleda Zia waves the national flag from the gate of her Gulshan residence, unable to step outside due to police restrictions. Photo: Tanvir Ahmed

Mar 19, 2014: Khaleda Zia appears in court for charge-framing hearings in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases. Photo: Tanvir Ahmed

Jan 27, 2015: Khaleda Zia breaks down in tears beside the coffin of her younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, after his body is brought home from Malaysia.

Mar 13, 2015: Khaleda Zia addresses a press conference at her Gulshan office amid a three-month-long blockade and hartal. Photo: Asaduzzaman Pramanik

Apr 5, 2015: Khaleda Zia secures bail in two corruption cases at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar. Photo: Asaduzzaman Pramanik

Jun 6, 2015: Khaleda Zia meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sonargaon Hotel during his visit to Bangladesh. Photo: Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Sept 17, 2015: Tarique Rahman drives Khaleda Zia home from the airport upon her arrival in London.

May 10, 2017: Khaleda Zia presents the BNP’s “Vision 2030” at a press conference at a hotel in Dhaka's Gulshan. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Mar 25, 2020: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Khaleda Zia is released conditionally for six months after serving 25 months in prison. Party leaders and activists gather at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to see her. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

Feb 8, 2018: Khaleda is being taken to the old Dhaka Central Jail after being sentenced to five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

Aug 7, 2024: Two days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, Khaleda Zia addresses a BNP rally virtually from abroad.

Nov 21, 2024: Khaleda Zia makes her first public appearance in six years at the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja, exchanging greetings with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. Photo: PID

Jan 7, 2025: Khaleda Zia leaves Dhaka for London for medical treatment aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

Jan 8, 2025: Khaleda Zia arrives at Heathrow Airport in London, where she is received by her elder son Tarique Rahman, daughter-in-law Zubaida Rahman and BNP leaders.

May 6, 2025: After four months of treatment in London, Khaleda Zia returns home. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

Nov 21, 2025: Khaleda Zia attends the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja, seated beside Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, in what would be her last public appearance. Photo: PID