“An era of political greatness ends; Bengal loses one of its brightest stars.”

One of the main pillars of Bangladeshi politics, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, is no more. She passed away on Tuesday (December 30) at 6:00 AM while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un). Dr. Zaid confirmed the news of her passing.

From Housewife to Political ‘Highway’: Born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur district, Khaleda Zia was primarily a housewife. She married Ziaur Rahman in 1960. However, the situation following the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981, pulled her into the challenging path of politics. She joined the BNP as a general member on January 2, 1982, and was elected Chairperson of the party in August 1984.

Anti-Autocracy Movement and the ‘Uncompromising’ Title: She was a symbol of resistance against General Ershad’s military rule. In 1983, she formed a seven-party alliance to begin the movement for restoring democracy. While the Awami League and Jamaat participated in the 1986 elections, Khaleda Zia boycotted them. Due to her firm stance, she was detained seven times between 1983 and 1990. For her role in the anti-Ershad movement, she earned the title “Uncompromising Leader” (Aposhhin Netri).

History of Female Leadership: On February 27, 1991, through free and fair elections, she was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She was the second female head of government in the Muslim world. During her tenure, Bangladesh returned to parliamentary democracy from a presidential system.

Economic and Social Development: Her term saw massive growth in the garment industry, with nearly 200,000 women joining the sector. She introduced compulsory primary education, free education for girls up to class ten, and stipends. She also increased the age limit for entering government service from 27 to 30 years.

Diplomatic Success: She strongly raised the issues of Ganges water sharing at the UN and the Rohingya issue at the White House.

Election Record: Begum Zia holds a unique record in Bangladesh’s electoral history. From 1991 to 2008, she never lost a single seat she contested. She won five seats each in 1991 and 2001, and three seats in 2008.

Final Years and Departure: She was arrested during the 1/11 government in 2007, amidst attempts to exile her family. Lately, she had been battling various legal complexities and illness. With her passing at Evercare Hospital on Tuesday morning, a long and colorful chapter of Bangladeshi politics has come to an end.