PM Modi condoles death of Khaleda Zia: 'Contributions towards development of India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered'

PM Modi recalled his meeting with Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka in 2015.

• Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia died at 80 in Dhaka on December 30, 2025.
• PM Modi expressed condolences, recalling her role in India-Bangladesh ties.
• Zia was Bangladesh's first woman PM and BNP chairperson.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the passing of former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.

“Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss. 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. I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” the PM posted on X.

Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.

Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss. As the… pic.twitter.com/BLg6K52vak — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia died on Tuesday at the age of 80, her party said in a statement.

“BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is no more," an official statement issued by the BNP chairperson’s press wing read.

Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away at 6.00 am on December 30, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, Dhaka. The news of her death was confirmed by her personal physician and BNP National Standing Committee member Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.

The BNP said several family members, senior party leaders and doctors were present at the hospital at the time of her death.

She had faced corruption cases she said were politically motivated, but in January 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted Zia in the last corruption case against her, which would have let her run in February’s election.

She died  a time of a political and social upheaval in Bangladesh, with protests, violence, atrocities against minority Hindus, and international scrutiny on the rise in the nation.