By Sazzad Haider
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, passed away in Dhaka on December 30. Her death occurred during a transitional phase for Bangladesh. Following Sheikh Hasina’s ousting in a violent mass uprising over a year and a half ago, Islamic fundamentalists began to rise in Bangladesh.
After Hasina’s exit, this group continued to exert pressure on interim government leader Dr. Mohammad Yunus to establish a revolutionary government rather than hold elections – even insisting that the nation be declared an Islamic state by altering the national flag and anthem.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, under the leadership of the late Begum Khaleda Zia, opposed these proposals and called for the restoration of democracy through immediate parliamentary elections. The BNP is the largest political party in Bangladesh, which is why Sheikh Hasina, recognized as an autocratic leader, subjected the BNP, her primary rival, and its leader, Begum Zia, along with her family, to various forms of oppression. Furthermore, numerous leaders, activists, and supporters of this party faced different types of torture, including enforced disappearances and murder.
Begum Khaleda Zia was forcibly removed from her residence, placed under house arrest, and imprisoned following a so-called kangaroo court trial. When Khaleda Zia sought to travel abroad for medical treatment, Sheikh Hasina ridiculed her efforts and denied her permission to leave the country. After Sheikh Hasina’s downfall, Begum Khaleda Zia was honorably released from house arrest and became a symbol of the nation’s democratic aspirations. Her party focused on maintaining constitutional continuity, which ultimately saved Bangladesh from a chaotic tax regime. Following the collapse of Hasina and her party, Khaleda Zia’s popularity soared. Interim Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Yunus has announced the election timetable, stating that the National Assembly elections are scheduled for February 12 of the coming year.
The primary contenders in this election are the BNP, which is led by Khaleda Zia (the party’s chair), and the Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic fundamentalist party recognized for its opposition to Bangladesh’s liberation war in 1971. The BNP, regarded as a moderate party, has formed alliances with various left-wing political groups. Other Islamic parties have also joined forces with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Due to Begum Khaleda’s imprisonment and health issues, her son, Tarique Rahman, has been managing the party as its vice chairman from exile in London for an extended period. Just five days ago, on December 25, after a lengthy 17-year exile, Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh and spoke at the largest public rally in the nation’s history. In front of millions, he vowed to create a secure Bangladesh, a message that resonated deeply with the crowd. This rally can be seen as evidence that Tarique Rahman is currently the most popular leader in Bangladesh, following in the footsteps of his recently deceased mother, Khaleda Zia.
In 1981, following the assassination of Khaleda Zia’s husband, Ziaur Rahman, a beloved president of Bangladesh, during a botched military coup, General Ershad, the army chief at the time, seized power in another coup with the intent of dismantling all political parties. During this tumultuous period, the newly widowed Khaleda Zia rose above her sorrow and took charge of the BNP, continuing the political struggle against Ershad. She quickly eclipsed her rival, Sheikh Hasina, in popularity, establishing herself as a steadfast leader.
When Ershad was ousted during a mass uprising in 1990, the BNP triumphed in the 1991 parliamentary elections, forming a government under Khaleda Zia’s leadership. Upon becoming prime minister, Khaleda Zia prioritized women’s empowerment and education, securing another term in office in 2001.
About the author:
Sazzad Haider is Writer & journalist, lives in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Journal.
