Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

In a statement, Prime Minister Karki said Khaleda Zia’s passing was a great loss to Bangladesh and the region. “On behalf of the government and people of Nepal, I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the people of Bangladesh,” the statement said.

Karki described Khaleda Zia as a lifelong public servant whose leadership marked a historic chapter in Bangladesh’s democratic journey. She also recalled Khaleda Zia as a close friend of Nepal who played a significant role in strengthening Nepal–Bangladesh relations. “May her departed soul rest in eternal peace,” the prime minister said.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, according to her party. She had been suffering from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, along with arthritis, diabetes, and heart and chest complications.

She travelled to London for medical treatment in early 2025 and stayed there for four months before returning to Bangladesh, Reuters reported.

Khaleda Zia first came to power in 1991 and later served another term as prime minister. Her political career was defined by a long and bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, with the two leaders dominating Bangladeshi politics for decades.

Although she had been out of power since 2006 and spent several years in jail or under house arrest, her centre-right BNP has continued to command strong public support. The party is widely seen as the frontrunner in the parliamentary elections scheduled for February.

Her son, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh last week after nearly 17 years in self-exile and is viewed as a leading contender for the premiership.

Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, following a student-led uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina from office.