Khaleda Zia: Bangladesh’s First Female Prime Minister and a Defining Political Figure

Khaleda Zia at a political gathering in Dhaka.

Khaleda Zia: Life and Political Career

Begum Khaleda Zia was a Bangladeshi politician who served as prime minister three times and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades. She became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and was one of the country’s most prominent political figures.

Early Life and Family

Khaleda Zia was born in 1946 in Jalpaiguri, then part of British India. Her family had roots in Feni. She studied in Dinajpur and married Ziaur Rahman, a military officer, in 1960. When Ziaur Rahman later became president of Bangladesh, she served as the country’s First Lady.

The couple had two sons, Tarique Rahman and the late Arafat Rahman Koko.

Role During the Liberation War

During the 1971 Liberation War, Khaleda Zia stayed in Dhaka with her two sons. She was detained by Pakistani forces and remained in captivity until the final stage of the war. She was released following Pakistan’s surrender in December 1971.

Entry into Politics

After President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981, Khaleda Zia gradually became involved in politics. She joined the BNP and became its chairperson in 1984.

During the 1980s, she emerged as a leading opponent of Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s military-backed rule. Alongside other opposition parties, she played a significant role in the mass movement that eventually led to Ershad’s resignation in December 1990.

Prime Ministerial Career

Following the 1991 general election, the BNP formed the government and Khaleda Zia became prime minister. Her first government introduced a number of reforms in education, administration and the economy. Parliament also restored the parliamentary system of government through the 12th Amendment to the Constitution.

She briefly returned as prime minister after the February 1996 election, before resigning amid opposition demands for a neutral caretaker government.

In the 2001 general election, the BNP-led alliance won a parliamentary majority, and Khaleda Zia became prime minister for a third term. Her government focused on economic growth, investment, infrastructure and education. Her administration also faced criticism over corruption, political violence and governance issues.

Later Political Life

After leaving office in 2006, Khaleda Zia remained a central figure in opposition politics. She was detained by the military-backed caretaker government in 2007 and released in 2008.

In 2018, she was convicted in corruption cases and sentenced to imprisonment. Following major political changes in Bangladesh in 2024, she was released and subsequently cleared in several legal cases.

Death

Khaleda Zia died on 30 December 2025 after prolonged health problems. She was given a state funeral, with large numbers of people attending to pay their final respects.

Political Legacy

Khaleda Zia’s political career was closely intertwined with Bangladesh’s modern political history. She played major roles in the anti-Ershad movement, the restoration of parliamentary government, electoral politics and the BNP’s long-running rivalry with the Awami League.

Her supporters regard her as an important figure in Bangladesh’s democratic movement, while her governments and political activities have also been subject to significant criticism. Her legacy therefore remains a major and contested part of Bangladesh’s contemporary political history.

Source: Reuters — Andrew Biraj, Dhaka, May 2, 2009