Shabera Shormin Didha:
In the political history of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia is not just a former Prime Minister; she is a rare example of responsible politics. Not the politics of power, but the politics of responsibility was the main philosophy of her path.
Some people use politics merely as a ladder to power, while others embrace it as a lifelong responsibility. Begum Khaleda Zia belonged to the latter—her politics reflected duty, sacrifice, and self-respect.
Even today, one painful thought lingers: had timely and proper medical treatment been ensured in earlier years, perhaps she could have remained with us a little longer. This sense of loss is not only personal; it is the sorrow of a nation.
Born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, Khaleda Zia grew up in a disciplined and educated family. Her father, Major (Retd.) Iskandar Majumder, was an officer in the armed forces. She received her education at Dinajpur Girls’ School and Surida College. During her student life, she had no direct involvement in politics; she was known as a composed, courteous, and dignified woman.
In 1960, she married Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. For many years, she lived as a homemaker and a mother of two sons. However, the brutal assassination of Ziaur Rahman in 1981 completely transformed her life. Crossing the boundary of personal grief, she entered politics not out of personal ambition, but compelled by the call of party leaders and the political realities of the country.
In 1984, she was elected Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). At that time, the country was under autocratic rule. She provided resolute leadership in the movement against Ershad’s regime. Street protests, mass movements, and an uncompromising stance—together these defined her unique role in the struggle to restore democracy. Her contribution to the fall of autocracy through the mass uprising of 1990 remains etched in history.
In 1991, she assumed office as the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Her government played a significant role in restoring parliamentary democracy, ensuring judicial independence, developing education and infrastructure, strengthening the rural economy, and enhancing Bangladesh’s standing in the international arena.
After leaving power, she endured repression, politically motivated cases, and imprisonment as the leader of the opposition. While seriously ill, she was kept in prison for a prolonged period without adequate medical care—an act many regarded as inhumane and driven by political vendetta.
She did not leave the country, nor did she evade responsibility. She was born on this soil, and on this very soil her life came to an end.
Her language, conduct, and personality embodied rare examples of courtesy and civility—qualities that are increasingly scarce in today’s politics.
She will be remembered as a responsible leader, a woman of struggle, and a symbol of dignity and self-respect.
May the Almighty grant her a place in Jannah.
