Begum Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and a towering figure in the nation’s democratic and economic history, died at Evercare Hospital in the capital’s Bashundhara neighbourhood on Tuesday morning, 30 December 2025.
BUILD expresses its profound shock and deepest condolences on her passing.
As the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia’s leadership marked a pivotal transition in our nation’s trajectory. Beyond her role in restoring parliamentary democracy, her administration helped steer Bangladesh toward a more market-oriented and outward-looking economy at a time when the country was emerging from prolonged military rule and had limited productive capacity. Her government introduced important reforms, including early support for export‑oriented industries, modernisation of the tax system through the Value Added Tax Act of 1991, and steps to strengthen financial sector regulation. Measures such as current account convertibility further integrated Bangladesh into global markets. These initiatives laid the groundwork for private sector-led growth and created an environment in which entrepreneurship could begin to flourish.
BUILD particularly recognises her visionary focus on rural welfare and job creation. By prioritising the economic empowerment of the grassroots, she helped integrate the rural economy into the national value chain. Her government’s efforts in liberalising trade and encouraging industrialisation provided the early impetus for the vibrant private sector we see today.
Begum Khaleda Zia’s legacy as a pioneer in the Muslim world, and her restrained yet resolute leadership style, have earned her a definitive place in South Asian history. We honour her unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Bangladesh and her enduring contributions to its socio‑economic fabric.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Secretariat of BUILD, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family, associates, and the people of Bangladesh. We pray for the eternal peace of her departed soul.