Begum Khaleda Zia’s Demise Is An Irreparable Loss for Bangladesh’s Political Landscape

Begum Khaleda Zia, the iconic figure in Bangladesh politics, departed for eternal peace in the early hours of December 30, 2025. The demise no doubt might mark the end of an era, but still her political legacies will remain deeply embedded in the mind and heart of citizens of Bangladesh, India plus rest of the globe.

Bangladeshi political scenarios bear a typical feature of its own. It was right from the halcyon days of liberation struggle of erstwhile East Pakistan and later on Bangladesh, the nation’s political and social culture was not at all smooth and transparent in nature. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, had multiple visions in his mind. But that was also short-lived. It was way back in the year 1975 on August 15, a sudden setback took place within the political stage of Bangladesh.

Arriving at the key point of my discussion, I find that to throw upon the political wisdom of Begum Khaleda Zia is not an easy task for this writer from Kolkata. Anyhow to be introspective in my temperament, I feel Begum Zia along with Sheikh Hasina both are and were quintessential figures in the political parlance of Bangladesh as well as that of South Asian Sub-Continent. Despite having diverse political ideologies among them, still I reiterate that both can be put under the similar fulcrum.

Now touching upon political astuteness of Khaleda Zia is concerned, she was in the preliminary phase of her life, reflected a semblance of utmost introvert temperament. Having born in Jalpaiguri, in undivided Bengal, in the year 1945 on August 15. Her humility was always in the uppermost temperament.

The credibility about Khaleda Zia which was established within the nation as well as to that of international arena. Was not as the wife of General Ziaur Rahman, but as a housewife of Bangladesh. She got married to Ziaur Rahman at a tender age of fifteen years. Late former Prime Minister tied the nuptial knot with General Ziaur Rahman way back in the year 1960. Despite herself in the academic forefront, she could not complete her academic life. However, in her post marital life with Ziaur Rahman, she had to move on to other region of the nation. Despite the disruption in her academic life, she was far above an element of academic degree. That means her associated Late Ziaur Rahman was a great booster in her public life. It became deeply evident in the later part of her life.

Khaleda Zia’s husband Major General Ziaur Rahman was appointed as President of Bangladesh way back in the year 1977 on April 21. Within a span of a year the position of Major Zia became further strengthened in the year 1978. It was exactly in the same year Major General Ziaur Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).  However sincere effort of Major General Ziaur Rahman did not last long. It was on a fateful day of the year 1981 on May 30 at Chittagong Circuit House, his eventful life came to a grinding halt. On account of his gruesome end to his life, the politics of Bangladesh took a sudden twist towards utter virulence. However, around that time political life did not remain standstill. The situation gradually became streamlined soon. In the year 1982, on January 3, Begum Zia joined the political bandwagon of the nation. In the prime of her political career, Begum Khaleda Zia was just a primary member of the party.

It was from the year 1983, Begum Khaleda Zia began to climb to the political ladder of Bangladesh. The details of her climbing to the political ladder in Bangladesh are stated as such, 1983 as vice president of BNP and in the year 1984 was appointed as chairperson of BNP. After the above stated years, Begum Khaleda Zia was confined to various political disturbances, hence could not be present within the political focal point of Bangladesh.

 In between this span of time, Begum Zia was involved in anti-military rule movement against General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Finally, the movement marked the eviction of General Ershad through a smart political coup. It was in the year 1990 on account of a political coup Ershad regime was pushed off due to a political coup. This coup of the year 1990, ultimately pave the way towards parliament election which made the decks cleared for Begum Khaleda to become the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh in the year 1991.

It was on three cycles; Begum Khaleda Zia was appointed as Prime Minister of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Such as, from March 1991 to March 1996, for few weeks in the year 1996 and finally from October 2001 to October 2006. Later on, from the years 2009 to 2024, Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister of this rising South Asian nation, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.

From the years 2009 till date Begum Khaleda Zia was in the midst of severe political strain and stress. From imprisonment and later on under severe house arrest, made the life of Late Begum Zia extremely miserable. However, she overcame everything under grit and gumption.

On account of this strained life of Begum Zia, severe political coercion cost her life dearly. Now coming to the positives of the life of Khaleda Zia’s public life, let me examine all those periods under different headings.

Begum Khaleda Zia had an eventful political and public which was deeply linked with the citizens of her nation as well as that of neighbouring India plus rest of the globe. During her tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her relationship with China, US, Japan and other superpowers of the globe, were truly an exemplary one.

During the tenure of Khaleda Zia as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, it was one of the best phases in the history of Bangladesh, since her birth in the year 1971 on December 16. Begum Zia visited India four times and later on six times with General Zia as President of Bangladesh. Apart from her trip to India, she toured other nations both as first lady and later on exclusively as Prime Minister of Bangladesh several times in a row.

Whichever the nations she visited, Begum Khaleda Zia was so cordial and amiable which deeply touched the hearts and mind of various global leaders. That is the reason, which I repeat she remained an uncompromising leader of highest stature. As per the democratic setup of Bangladesh was concerned, Khaleda Zia played a pivotal role. This cannot be disagreed by political analysts of India and Bangladesh.

Now if we wish to distinguish between Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina in the role of Prime Minister of the nation, then I would not hesitate to state both possess and possessed utmost dynamism upon them. Politically there might be differences in mind and temperament, but that focal point should be diplomatically avoided.

While touching upon the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 12, I feel there is quadrupled note of interrogation symbol. Which I feel that my respected readers might take serious note of it. The would-be Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is at present in a deep-rooted quandary. Which I feel are all of us deeply aware off. Rahman’s key worry is how smoothly and transparently manage the outflow and inroads of Dr. Yunus gong and Jamaat Islami tyranny. This is a common symptom in modern politics. However close neighbour India will always remain by the side of new look Bangladesh.

Apart from the political angle, Begum Khaleda Zia was deeply cordial with academic and cultural fraternities of Bangladesh. The above groups were deeply fascinated by her warmth and amiability towards them.

There are many reputed writers of Bangladesh who wrote intensively about Khaleda Zia. From their writings, one thing is evident about her political prowess and sagacity along with deep accountability towards their needs.

Summation of my above discourse, one point becomes crystal clear in me. That as days pass off in our life, the name Khaleda Zia cannot be erased from the threshold of our mind and heart. It should be our earnest hopes and aspirations, under the regime of Tarique Rahman along with his BNP party, the relationship with closer and cordial neighbour will further herald in new vistas of collaboration and cooperation with other SAARC nations, but relations with closer and cordial neighbour India will always remain at the uppermost.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Calcutta, India.