World reacts to death of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female leader

"Here's a round-up of the reaction: The country's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed profound sorrow at the three-time prime minister's death. He described her as a symbol of the democratic movement and said her struggle to establish democracy, a multi-party political culture and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever. He said he was deeply saddened and grief-stricken by her death."

"Khaleda's longtime political rival, Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile in India following her overthrow last year, also offered condolences. As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and for her role in the struggle to establish democracy, her contributions to the nation were significant and will be remembered. Her passing represents a profound loss for Bangladesh's political life and for the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Hasina said in a post shared online by her Awami League."

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by Khaleda's death and offered his sincerest condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh. 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, he wrote on X. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness and described Zia as a committed friend of Pakistan."

Khaleda Zia died in a Dhaka hospital at age 80 after a prolonged illness. Global leaders offered condolences and highlighted her role as Bangladesh's first female prime minister. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described her as a symbol of the democratic movement and said her struggle to establish democracy, a multi-party political culture and the rights of the people will be remembered. Longtime political rival Sheikh Hasina, in exile in India following her overthrow last year, called Zia's passing a profound loss for Bangladesh's political life and for BNP leadership. Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sadness and praised her contributions to development and regional relations.

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