World reacts to death of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female leader
Last Updated on December 30, 2025 8:45 pm
The death of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has prompted an outpouring of condolences around the world, with leaders highlighting her service to the nation as its first female premier.
Khaleda died in a hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 79 years old.
Here’s a round-up of the reaction:
Bangladesh
The country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed “profound sorrow” at the three-time prime minister’s death. He described her as a “symbol of the democratic movement” and said her struggle to establish “democracy, a multi-party political culture and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever”.
He said he was “deeply saddened and grief-stricken by her death”.
Khaleda’s longtime political rival, Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile in India following her overthrow last year, also offered condolences.
“As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and for her role in the struggle to establish democracy, her contributions to the nation were significant and will be remembered. Her passing represents a profound loss for Bangladesh’s political life and for the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” Hasina said in a post shared online by her Awami League.
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by Khaleda’s death and offered his “sincerest condolences” to her family and the people of Bangladesh.
“As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered,” he wrote on X.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness and described Zia as a “committed friend of Pakistan”.
“Her lifelong service to Bangladesh and its growth and development leaves a lasting legacy,” he wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and the people of Bangladesh during this difficult time.”
United States
The US embassy in Dhaka extended its deepest condolences on Zia’s death.
“Mrs. Zia played a pivotal role in shaping her country’s modern history, and her leadership was instrumental in advancing Bangladesh’s development,” it wrote.
UN
United Nations (UN) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
In a statement, UN also extended condolences to her family and reaffirmed solidarity with the Government and people of Bangladesh.
The UN statement read: “United Nations expresses its deep condolences on the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.”
It added, “During this time of grief, UN conveys its heartfelt sympathy to the family and loved ones of the former Prime Minister and reiterates its solidarity with the Government and people of Bangladesh.”
Begum Khaleda Zia passed away around 6:00 AM on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Chaina
China expresses deep condolences over the passing of Khaleda Zia, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
Spokesperson Lin Jian also said that China extends sincere sympathies to the interim government of Bangladesh and to her family.
According to media reports, Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday.