Bangladeshi former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia died at the age of 80 after a ​prolonged illness, ‌her Bangladesh Nationalist ‍Party (BNP) said on Tuesday.

"The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m., just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer," the party said in a statement.

(With input from agencies)