Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday, ending a successful career in politics.
The 80-year-old had been suffering from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and heart and chest problems, according to her doctors.
She was admitted to Dhaka's Evercare Hospital on November 23 and was on life support over the past few days.
"We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul," the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said in an X post announcing the death of its former chief.
News of the BNP veteran's death have also also sparked curiosity about her net worth.
While reports speculate that Zia is currently worth millions of dollars, THE WEEK could not independently verify this claim.
However, according to her last public disclosure affidavit filed in 2018, her net worth was Tk 1.52 crore. Considering the exchange rate of Tk 1 = $0.012 in 2018, that would put her net worth at $181,524.
According to the affidavit, out of Tk 1.52 crore, about Tk 67 lakh came from renting out houses, apartments, or shops, while approximately Tk 85 lakh came in as income from shares, savings certificates, or bank deposits.
The affidavit also showed that while she kept Tk 50,300 as cash, her deposits in various banks and financial institutions amounted to about Tk 4.77 crore.
Finally, it also pointed out that the value of cars owned by Zia were estimated to be about Tk 48 lakh, and that some electronic goods she owned were worth Tk 50 lakh.
Survived by her son, Tarique Rahman—who returned to Bangladesh after a self-imposed 17-year exile in the UK—and his family, Khaleda Zia leaves behind a country plagued by unrest over the murder of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi.