Begum Khaleda Zia: A Luminous Icon and Firebrand for Sustaining Democracy in Bangladesh

A glorious chapter in Bangladesh's political history came to a closure yesterday through the death of uncompromising democratic champion and a luminous and iconic leader on the country's political landscape Begum Khaleda Zia.

Khaleda Zia's death has shocked people from all walks of life in Bangladesh and beyond. She has left behind a golden legacy of struggle for equal rights, women emancipation, diehard devotion for justice and patriotism till her last breath. Khaleda Zia is martyred President Ziaur Rahman's wife. Ziaur Rahman was a legendary military officer as well as a heroic freedom fighter who led the formidable Z Force while the Liberation War of 1971 was going on. Moreover, Ziaur Rahman proclaimed Bangladesh's independence on 26 March 1971 and several years later he founded Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Begum Khaleda Zia held the post of BNP Chairperson since Ziaur Rahman was assassinated on 30 May 1981.

Begum Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh's first elected woman Prime Minister when her party BNP won the general elections in 1991 which was organized by a caretaker government. All politicians and noted scholars, veteran media professionals, authors and educated individuals are aware of Khaleda Zia's enormous role in the Anti-Autocratic Movement of 1990 which restored democracy in Bangladesh after around two decades. She became Bangladesh's Prime Minister three times through elections and she had an unwavering voice for the prevalence of democracy and people's electoral rights.

Khaleda Zia was a young lady when her life partner Ziaur Rahman got killed in 1981. Since then she retained her party's Chairperson post firmly through a lot of ups and downs. She was subjected to political vengeance and maltreatment by the immediate past rulers over vague charges. She was imprisoned from 2018 to 2024 which caused grievous health complications to her being an elderly lady. However, all these repressions and blood eyes from the authoritarian and tyrannical ruling hierarchy failed to subdue Khaleda Zia's combat for restoring democracy and political integrity in Bangladesh. Even after the overthrow of the previous government which was in power from 2009 to 2024 and was ousted on 5 August 2024, Begum Khaleda Zia called upon everyone to keep away from taking revenge on political opponents. Khaleda Zia died at a very crucial time when her leadership acumen and political wisdom were very much required. She has left behind her son Tarique Rahman who has been BNP Acting Chairman for some years.

Now an immense duty has landed on Tarique Rahman's shoulders. He has to play a dynamic and ironhanded role to stop all the undesirable things which have been going on across Bangladesh for last more than one year like mob violence, attacks on women, assaults on shrines, torching newspaper offices and intimidating minorities. Bangladesh's honour has been marred with interrogative signs following heinous mob attacks on the offices of daily newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. These violent occurrences have hit news headlines throughout the world. Rule of law, good governance and accountability in state organs cannot be established without freedom of press.

Tarique Rahman has to carry on his father's dexterity and his mother's endowments of safeguarding the country's dignity. He has to work relentlessly to unite everyone for the country's greater interest and he should restrain all people from assailing one another. The political divides and ideological disagreements existing at present in Bangladesh must be bridged up and dissolved without delay. We would like to put full confidence on Tarique Rahman for implementing these vital jobs.

Khaleda Zia's ruling period from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006 contributed magnificently in empowering women and enabling women to join politics, government jobs, private professions, law and order forces, healthcare services etcetera. Judging from this point of view, one has to admit Khaleda Zia's beneficial role in uplifting the social honour and economic self-reliance among the women of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh should be fortified and emboldened to stand out on the world map as a country of interreligious harmony, reciprocal honour and the ability to pay respect to each other's political beliefs. French Philosopher Francois Voltaire once said "I may not agree with you but I will give away my life to defend your right to speak out your opinion". This is an axiomatic and universal message to build up a country on firm and unflinching democratic foundations. Begum Khaleda Zia fought during her political career to uphold equity and to consolidate justice and now the trail has to be blazed on and carried forward by Tarique Rahman.

Khaleda Zia's another son Arafat Rahman Koko died on 24 January 2015 but she was not allowed to see her son's mortal remains. Such gruesome and disdainful instances of political malevolence must be eradicated from Bangladesh forever.

The essence and goal of the July Uprising was to eliminate discrimination, corruption, nepotism and oligarchy from our society and to liberate our state organs from these detrimental things. We must move forward cherishing in our hearts the spirit of 1971 and the values of 2024.

While concluding, I offer my wholehearted prayers for the eternal peace of Begum Khaleda Zia's departed soul in the world hereafter and I sincerely sympathize with her bereaved family. Let truth, nonviolence, peace and fraternity triumph over all adversities.

Shoeb Chowdhury is an entrepreneur, author, poet, sports organizer and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Asian Age.