Who Was Khaleda Zia? Bangladesh’s First Woman PM and Fierce Rival of Sheikh Hasina

Who Was Khaleda Zia? Bangladesh’s First Woman PM and Fierce Rival of Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh has lost one of its most towering—and polarizing—political figures. Khaleda Zia, the nation’s first woman prime minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 80 after a prolonged battle with multiple serious health complications . Her death comes at a volatile juncture: just weeks before crucial national elections, and amid deep political fractures that she helped both shape and sustain for over four decades.

From a reluctant widow thrust into politics to a two-time prime minister and the defining opposition force to Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia’s life mirrored Bangladesh’s turbulent democratic journey. But who was she beyond the headlines? What legacy does she leave behind? And how will her absence reshape the country’s political landscape?

Table of Contents

• From Widow to Political Titan: Khaleda Zia’s Unlikely Rise
• Her Tenure as Prime Minister: Policies and Controversies
• The Epic Rivalry: Khaleda Zia vs. Sheikh Hasina
• BNP Leadership and Democratic Struggles
• Final Years: Illness, House Arrest, and Political Silence
• Legacy and Impact on Bangladesh’s Democracy
• What Her Death Means for Upcoming Elections
• Conclusion: A Complicated Giant of South Asian Politics
• Sources

From Widow to Political Titan: Khaleda Zia’s Unlikely Rise

Born in 1945 in Feni, Khaleda Zia never sought political life. She was a housewife and mother of three when her husband, President Ziaur Rahman—a former army officer who founded the BNP and steered Bangladesh toward multi-party democracy—was assassinated in 1981 .

Grief-stricken but resolute, she entered politics to “protect her husband’s legacy.” By 1984, she became BNP chairperson. Just five years later, in 1991, she led the party to victory, becoming Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister—a milestone in a deeply conservative Muslim-majority nation.

Her Tenure as Prime Minister: Policies and Controversies

Khaleda Zia served two non-consecutive terms (1991–1996 and 2001–2006). Her governments focused on:

• Economic liberalization: Privatizing state industries and attracting foreign investment.
• Infrastructure development: Expanding roads, power grids, and rural connectivity.
• Nationalism: Promoting Bengali-Islamic identity and honoring her husband’s legacy.

However, her terms were marred by allegations of corruption, political violence, and deteriorating relations with India. Critics accused her of fostering Islamist alliances and suppressing dissent—a charge her supporters dismissed as politically motivated .

The Epic Rivalry: Khaleda Zia vs. Sheikh Hasina

No modern political feud in South Asia compares to the decades-long battle between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Their rivalry wasn’t just political—it was deeply personal, rooted in the opposing legacies of their husbands and fathers.

While Hasina championed secularism and closer ties with India, Zia emphasized nationalism and balanced relations with China and Pakistan. For over 30 years, Bangladesh swung between their alternating rules—a cycle marked by mass protests, hartals (strikes), and mutual accusations of authoritarianism .

BNP Leadership and Democratic Struggles

Under Zia’s leadership, the BNP became Bangladesh’s primary center-right alternative to Hasina’s Awami League. Yet, the party struggled to maintain cohesion without her. After her 2018 conviction in a corruption case (widely seen as politically driven by opponents), the BNP was sidelined from elections, with Zia under de facto house arrest from 2018 until her final days .

Despite her absence, her name remained a rallying cry. “Khaleda Zia is not just a leader—she’s a symbol of resistance for millions,” said a BNP spokesperson in 2024 .

Final Years: Illness, House Arrest, and Political Silence

From 2018 onward, Zia lived in seclusion at her Dhaka residence, her health steadily declining. She suffered from respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and neurological complications. Repeated requests for medical treatment abroad were denied by the government, drawing criticism from human rights groups like Human Rights Watch .

Her silence in recent years created a leadership vacuum in the BNP, now led by her son Tarique Rahman—from exile in London—raising questions about the party’s future without its iconic matriarch.

Legacy and Impact on Bangladesh’s Democracy

Khaleda Zia’s legacy is complex:

• ✅ **Pioneer for women**: Broke gender barriers in a patriarchal society.
• ⚠️ **Polarizing figure**: Accused of enabling corruption and political violence.
• ✅ **Democratic resilience**: Kept opposition alive even under repression.
• ⚠️ **Institutional erosion**: Her rivalry with Hasina contributed to democratic backsliding.

Historians will likely view her as both a product and a shaper of Bangladesh’s chaotic democracy.

What Her Death Means for Upcoming Elections

With national elections looming, Zia’s death could trigger both unity and chaos within the opposition. The BNP may see a surge of sympathy-driven support, but without her unifying presence, factionalism could worsen. Meanwhile, the Awami League may face renewed protests demanding electoral reform.

One thing is certain: Bangladesh’s political narrative can no longer be told as a two-woman drama. A new chapter has begun.

Conclusion: A Complicated Giant of South Asian Politics

Khaleda Zia was never just a politician—she was a force of history. Her life spanned coups, democracies, personal tragedy, and global scrutiny. Love her or loathe her, she defined an era. As Bangladesh mourns, the nation must now navigate a future without its fiercest daughter—a test of democracy far greater than any election.

Sources

• Times of India, “Who was Khaleda Zia? Bangladesh’s first woman PM; archrival of Sheikh Hasina,” December 30, 2025.
• [[2], [3]] Biographical data from BBC News and The Daily Star (Dhaka).
• [[4], [5]] Analysis of Bangladesh’s political rivalry from Al Jazeera and South Asia Monitor.
• BNP official statements (2023–2025).
• Human Rights Watch reports on political prisoners and medical access in Bangladesh.
• External reference: Encyclopædia Britannica – Khaleda Zia profile.