Dhaka/New Delhi: A chapter of Bangladesh’s political historical past got here to a detailed at this time (December 30, 2025). Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was one of the crucial influential faces of Dhaka’s politics for many years, handed away this morning. She breathed her final shortly after providing the Fajr (pre-dawn) prayers. She was 80.
Born in India and lovingly referred to as ‘Putul’ in her early years, she went on to construct a political profession that always stood in direct opposition to India. Her demise comes at a delicate time for Bangladesh, which is grappling with political uncertainty, rising extremism and violence, with nationwide elections scheduled for February 12.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP) introduced her passing by way of a publish on its verified Meta (previously Fb) web page. “Khaleda Zia handed away at round 6:00 am, shortly after Fajr namaz,” the occasion stated.
From Jalpaiguri To Dhaka’s Energy Corridors
Zia was born on August 15, 1945, in Jalpaiguri, then a part of undivided India’s Bengal Presidency. Her full identify was Khaleda Khanam Putul. After the Partition of India in 1947, her household moved to Dinajpur.
Although she typically described herself as self-educated and authored her personal life accounts, data present she studied at Dinajpur Missionary College and Dinajpur Women’ College. There is no such thing as a official documentation of her greater schooling.
Her life took a flip after her marriage to Ziaur Rahman, a captain within the Pakistani Military. Following their marriage in 1965, she moved to Pakistan and adopted the identify Khaleda Zia.
In the course of the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict, Rahman was serving within the navy. He later emerged as an essential face in Bangladesh’s historical past, ultimately changing into the nation’s president. Zia served as Bangladesh’s First Woman from 1977 to 1981.
The couple had two sons, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman. Arafat handed away in 2015 following a coronary heart assault.
A Tragedy That Pushed Her Into Politics
The assassination of her husband on Could 30, 1981, modified the course of her life. The non-public loss drew her into lively politics, an area she would dominate for many years. On January 2, 1982, she joined the BNP, a celebration based by her husband in 1978. By Could 10, 1984, she had turn into its chairperson, a place she held till December 30, 2025.
She led mass actions towards the navy rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who seized energy in a coup in 1982. From 1983 to 1990, she headed a seven-party alliance that challenged Ershad’s regime. She boycotted the 1986 elections and spent a number of durations underneath home arrest. Her political life throughout these years was outlined by extended resistance and avenue mobilisation.
Three Phrases As Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia served as Bangladesh’s prime minister thrice. Her first time period started in 1991, making her the nation’s first lady prime minister. Throughout this era, her authorities launched free and obligatory major schooling.
Beginning in February 1996, her second time period was transient. From October 10, 2001, to October 29, 2006, her third time period proved to be her strongest electorally. Her four-party alliance secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, giving her authorities agency management over the state equipment.
The ‘Battle Of The Begums’
Bangladesh’s politics for many years was influenced by the extreme rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, a feud broadly often called the “Battle of the Begums”. Zia represented one pole of energy, whereas Hasina dominated the opposite. Their rivalry was rooted in private loss, household histories and totally different political visions.
Accusations linked to the killings of their respective relations fuelled the bitterness. Although they briefly stood collectively towards Ershad’s dictatorship in 1990, the divide deepened quickly after. Zia turned prime minister in 1991, whereas Hasina led the opposition.
Hasina took workplace in 1996, with Zia resisting from outdoors. Her return to energy in 2001 and the 2004 grenade assault on Hasina, an incident for which allegations had been levelled towards Zia’s authorities, additional hardened hostilities.
Hasina was in energy for prolonged durations after 2009. Throughout these years, a number of corruption circumstances had been filed towards Zia. In 2018, she was despatched to jail following convictions in corruption-related circumstances.
Authorized Battles And Declining Well being
Greater than 32 circumstances had been filed towards her, together with the Gatco, Niko and Barapukuria circumstances. In 2018, she was sentenced to 5 years within the Zia Orphanage Belief case. The sentence was later elevated to 10 years and 7 years within the Zia Charitable Belief case.
In 2020, she was granted bail as a result of Coronavirus pandemic. Since then, she was incessantly hospitalised as her well being deteriorated.
A Lengthy Section Of Friction With India
Zia’s political worldview, influenced partly by her Pakistan-linked background, typically positioned her at odds with India. Her relationship with New Delhi was marked by mistrust. Her politics leaned closely on anti-India Bengali nationalism.
Her stance turned notably evident in March 2013, when she refused to fulfill then Indian President Pranab Mukherjee throughout his go to to Dhaka. On the time, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) authorities was in energy in Delhi. She argued that India was giving undue choice to Hasina’s authorities.
Throughout her phrases from 1991 to 1996 and 2001 to 2006, she prioritised ties with Pakistan and China over India. She described the 1972 India-Bangladesh Friendship Treaty as a “treaty of servitude” and opposed it strongly.
She labelled the 1996 Ganga water-sharing settlement a “deal of subjugation” and resisted the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, claiming it will ultimately flip the area into a part of India.
Beneath her management, anti-India components discovered area in Bangladesh. Pakistan’s Inter-Companies Intelligence (ISI) strengthened its presence in Dhaka, with teams such because the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) receiving backing from Pakistani militants, whereas Indian rebel outfits from the Northeast, together with the ULFA and the NSCN, reportedly discovered shelter on Bangladeshi soil.
Her authorities additionally maintained a confrontational posture on points such because the Teesta water-sharing dispute, border administration and unlawful infiltration. As a substitute of pursuing strategic partnership with India, Zia adopted what she described as a coverage of “steadiness”, preserving New Delhi at arm’s size.
Restricted Engagement With India
Regardless of her strained stance, she made transient visits to India throughout her prime ministerial years. One such go to passed off in 2006, when she met then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Her most mentioned India go to got here in October 2012, when she travelled because the Chief of the Opposition. The journey drew consideration as a result of it got here towards the backdrop of the BNP’s long-standing anti-India picture.
Along with her passing, Bangladesh has misplaced a pacesetter who influenced its politics by way of confrontation, resistance and enduring rivalry. Her legacy is intertwined with the nation’s turbulent democratic journey and its uneasy relationship with India.