The passing of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has left a profound mark on the nation's political landscape. Her death, at the age of 80, brings to an end a chapter defined by fierce rivalry and significant impact on the country's trajectory.
Khaleda Zia's legacy is intertwined with that of Sheikh Hasina, a relationship that shaped Bangladesh's politics for decades. The two leaders stood on opposite sides of the political spectrum, their rivalry a defining feature of the nation's democratic journey.
A Life of Political Turmoil
Zia's political career was marked by controversy and resilience. She faced numerous corruption cases, which she vehemently denied, claiming they were politically motivated. However, in a surprising turn of events, the Supreme Court acquitted her of the last corruption charge in January 2025, a decision that could have altered the course of the upcoming February election.
Despite her legal battles and health issues, Zia remained a formidable force in Bangladeshi politics. She returned to the country in May, after seeking medical treatment in the UK, and vowed to campaign for the February 2026 elections, the first since the mass uprising that toppled her rival, Sheikh Hasina.
A Nation's Inspiration
In November, Zia's health took a turn for the worse, and she was admitted to the hospital. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, her condition deteriorated due to a multitude of health issues. During her final days, the interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, called on the nation to pray for Zia, praising her as a source of inspiration for Bangladesh.
Zia's life and political career were shaped by the tumultuous early years of Bangladesh's independence. The country gained its freedom through a bloody war with Pakistan in 1971, and the following years were marked by political assassinations, coups, and countercoups as various factions vied for power.
A Family Legacy
Zia's husband, President Ziaur Rahman, played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's political history. He seized power as a military chief in 1977 and later formed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). While credited with opening up the country's democracy, he was tragically killed in a military coup in 1981. Zia's unwavering stance against military dictatorship helped galvanize a mass movement, ultimately leading to the ousting of dictator HM Ershad in 1990.
Zia's political opponent and rival, Sheikh Hasina, was the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's independence leader who was assassinated in a coup in 1975. Their rivalry spanned multiple elections, with Zia winning her first term in 1991 and several subsequent elections.
Controversial Elections and Alliances
One of the most controversial moments in Zia's political career was the early 1996 election, where her party won an overwhelming majority of 278 out of 300 parliamentary seats during a boycott by other leading parties, including Hasina's Awami League. This election result was widely criticized, and a nonpartisan caretaker government was installed, leading to a new election in June of the same year.
Zia returned to power in 2001, forming a government with the country's main Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, a party with a controversial past involving Bangladesh's independence war. Zia's BNP maintained the support of the business community by adopting pro-investment, open-market policies. However, her soft spot for Pakistan and anti-Indian political speeches often drew criticism and allegations of allowing insurgents to use Bangladeshi soil to destabilize India's northeastern states.
A Controversial Conviction
In a controversial move, Zia was sentenced to 17 years in jail in two separate corruption cases, accused of misusing her power to embezzle funds from a charity named after her late husband. Her party argued that these charges were politically motivated to weaken the opposition, while the Hasina government maintained that it did not interfere and that the case was a matter for the courts.
Hasina faced bitter criticism from both her opponents and independent critics for sending Zia to jail, a decision that further polarized the nation's political landscape.
Khaleda Zia's life and political career leave a lasting impact on Bangladesh, a nation that has witnessed profound political changes and challenges. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to shape the country's future.
