Kolkata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia.

Banerjee said she was a prominent public leader.

"Saddened by the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a prominent public leader. I extend my condolences to her family, friends and followers," she posted on X.

বাংলাদেশের প্রাক্তন প্রধানমন্ত্রী তথা অন্যতম জননেত্রী বেগম খালেদা জিয়ার প্রয়াণে আমি শোকাহত।

আমি তাঁর শোকসন্তপ্ত পরিবার,বন্ধুবান্ধব ও তাঁর রাজনৈতিক সহকর্মীদের আমার সমবেদনা জানাচ্ছি।

Saddened by the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 30, 2025

The three-time prime minister of Bangladesh breathed her last early Tuesday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. She was 80.

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Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, played a major role in restoring democracy in the country after a period of tumultuous military rule. She went on to dominate the country's politics for decades.