Bangladesh ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia passes away at 80

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose archrivalry with another former premier defined the country’s politics for a generation, has died, her Bangladesh Nationalist Party said in a statement on Tuesday.

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She was 80.Zia was the first woman elected prime minister of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s interim government announced a three-day mourning period.

A general holiday also was announced for Wednesday when Zia’s funeral prayers are scheduled to be held in front of the country’s national Parliament building in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus issued a statement on Tuesday citing Zia’s contributions to the country.

“Her role in the struggle to establish democracy, a multiparty political culture, and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever,” Yunus said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a statement on Tuesday, noting that “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.”

Sajeeb Wazed, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said in a statement on Tuesday that Zia’s demise “will leave a deep impact on the country’s (democratic) transition.”