Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former prime minister of Bangladesh.
In a social media post, the prime minister said he was saddened by her passing and praised her lifelong services to Bangladesh and its development. He said her contributions would be remembered for years to come.
PM Shehbaz said Begum Khaleda Zia was a close friend of Pakistan and added that the government and people of Pakistan stand with the people of Bangladesh in this time of sorrow. He extended condolences to her family and prayed for her soul.
Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. She was a leading political figure in Bangladesh for decades and had planned to take part in elections expected next year.
She had been suffering from health problems for a long time and was admitted to hospital in late November, where her condition worsened.
Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges during the rule of Sheikh Hasina and was released after Hasina’s removal from power in August 2024.
