Khaleda Zia passes away: How a ‘shy housewife’ became one of Bangladesh’s most powerful leaders

At a time when Bangladesh grapples with political uncertainty, the country bid adieu to one of its most towering personalities — 80-year-old Khaleda Zia. The former prime minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) breathed her last at 6 am on December 30 at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital where she was since November 23.

The 80-year-old, according to her doctors, had been suffering from multiple age-related ailments, including advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and complications related to her chest and heart.

Khaleda’s funeral is likely to be held at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Wednesday (December 31), said Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the party’s standing committee.

As the country is plunged into grief with Khaleda’s death , we take a closer look at her life and politics and how she left a lasting mark on the country’s politics as well as society.

The rise of Khaleda Zia

Khaleda was born in August 1945 in Jalpaiguri in undivided India. After the partition, she and her family migrated to Dinajpur town (now in Bangladesh). She initially attended the Dinajpur Missionary School and later moved to the Dinajpur Girls’ School in 1960.

At the age of 15, she went on to marry Ziaur Rahman, then a young army officer, and cultivate a family. Even as her husband declared himself president in 1977, Khaleda chose to keep a low profile, with many even describing as a “shy housewife” devoted to their two sons.

Harunur Rashid Khan, who served as aide-de-camp to her husband, President Rahman, describes Khaleda as humble, kind and thoughtful.

However, in 1981, her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in a military mutiny, pushing Khaleda to make an entry into politics. In 1982, Khaleda joined the BNP as a general member and the following year, she became its vice chair, and was elected party chairperson in August 1984.

The ‘uncompromising leader’s first term as PM

In 1982, Bangladesh began nine years of military dictatorship and Zia found herself campaigning for democracy. It was during this campaign that she earned the title of “uncompromising leader,” a reputation that propelled her to victory in the 1991 election, surprising many who had assumed an Awami League win.

With this win, she became not only the first female leader of Bangladesh, but also just the second woman to lead a Muslim country.

Her first move as prime minister was to restore the parliamentary system in Bangladesh through the 12th Amendment. Under this law, a House of directly-elected representatives, a council of ministers headed by the prime minister accountable to the Jatiya Sangsad, a constitutional head of state (President) to be voted by the Jatiya Sangsad and an independent judiciary was established.

Her government also passed laws to make primary education compulsory and establish a coast guard, and also introduced a free market economy.

In 1996, she was chosen to lead the country for a second term. However, this term was short-lived. The BNP then lost the subsequent election and became the main opposition.

Khaleda Zia’s third term as PM

Ahead of the 2001 polls, the BNP under Khaleda’s leadership stitched together a four-party alliance and won the polls decisively, giving Khaleda a third term in office. She pursued a 100-day reform programme, attracted foreign investment, improved infrastructure, and maintained strong GDP growth.

According to an Al Jazeera report, in 2006, the country’s GDP stood at its highest post independence, prompting the World Bank to describe the country as “Asia’s next tiger economy”.

However, her administration wasn’t without criticisms. Allegations of corruption were raised during her tenure.

Zia’s eventual downfall

In 2018, Khaleda Zia was convicted and jailed after being found guilty of embezzling about $252,000 intended for an orphanage trust set up when she was prime minister. She became the only prisoner locked up in Dhaka’s old - and now disused - central jail.

Her supporters decried her arrest, saying the corruption charges were a politically motivated attempt to keep her out of power.

In March 2020, the Sheikh Hasina government allowed Zia to walk out of jail over health issues. The then Bangladeshi law and justice minister Anisul Haq said she was released on the condition that “she remains in her Dhaka residence to receive treatment and does not go abroad.”

Khaleda was freed from house arrest in August 2024 after Hasina’s ouster. In early 2025, Khaleda was acquitted by Bangladesh’s Supreme Court in the corruption case that resulted in the 2018 jail sentences.

Khaleda vs Hasina — the Battle of the Begums

Khaleda Zia’s history is closely interwoven with that of another woman leader in Bangladesh — Sheikh Hasina. In fact, their bitter rivalry has been dubbed as ‘Battle of the Begums’.

Their animosity can be traced back to the 1975 assassination of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with most of her family, in a coup. Three months later, Khaleda’s husband, Ziaur Rahman, then deputy army chief, effectively took control. He became president in 1977. He was himself assassinated in 1981.

The two women in the following years alternated in power. Khaleda was softer spoken than Hasina, but Hasina was far less reserved. Khaleda avoided personal insults that Hasina freely deployed, yet she would not cook for guests as Hasina often did.

Khaleda’s legacy to live on

At 80, Khaleda has surrendered to the battle she was fighting against the many ailments that plagued her. But her legacy will live on, courtesy her son — Tarique Rahman , who recently returned to Dhaka after 17 years of self exile.

The 60-year-old will contest the February 12 polls. It is, however, to be seen if Tarique can live up to his mother’s heritage.

With inputs from agencies