Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Illustration: The Times of Jumland
When Khaleda Zia entered public life, Bangladesh was still struggling to find political stability. Democracy had returned, but trust between political parties was weak. Elections were often followed by protests, and power was deeply personal. Over the next three decades, Khaleda Zia would stand at the centre of this political reality, shaping it and being shaped by it in return.
Khaleda Zia did not plan a political career in her early life. She was born in 1945 and lived largely outside politics until history pushed her forward. That turning point came in 1981, when her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated. His death left a political vacuum and a party without a clear future. Over time, Khaleda Zia stepped into that space, first quietly and then with growing authority.
Her rise was closely tied to Bangladesh’s return to parliamentary democracy. After years of military rule, the early 1990s marked a hopeful but uncertain period. In 1991, Khaleda Zia became Prime Minister for the first time. Her government oversaw the restoration of parliamentary rule, an important step in rebuilding democratic institutions. For many supporters, this moment confirmed her place as a legitimate national leader.
However, governing Bangladesh was never simple. From the beginning, her time in office was shaped by deep rivalry. Politics quickly became confrontational. Street protests, hartals, and parliamentary boycotts became common tools. Cooperation between major parties was rare. While elections continued, the political atmosphere grew tense and unstable.
Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister twice, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. These years were marked by strong leadership but also by constant conflict. Supporters saw her as a defender of pluralism and opposition politics. Critics argued that her government failed to reduce corruption and strengthen institutions. Both views existed side by side, reflecting a divided political landscape.
One defining feature of her political life was her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. This rivalry was not just personal; it represented two different political histories and identities. Over time, this confrontation came to dominate national politics. Elections, reforms, and even daily governance were often shaped by this struggle. As a result, politics became increasingly focused on personalities rather than policies.
Even when she was not in power, Khaleda Zia remained central to political life. As leader of the opposition, she led movements challenging election processes and government legitimacy. These movements mobilised large numbers of people, but they also caused long periods of disruption. Roads were blocked, businesses suffered, and normal life was often interrupted. Politics became something people endured rather than trusted.
In later years, Khaleda Zia’s political role changed sharply. Legal cases and convictions removed her from active leadership. She spent time in prison and later under restricted movement due to illness. For her supporters, this phase reinforced the belief that she was being politically targeted. For her critics, it marked long-awaited accountability. Regardless of opinion, her absence created a gap that her party struggled to fill.
As her health declined, Khaleda Zia became increasingly silent. Yet even in silence, she remained politically powerful. Decisions within opposition politics often revolved around her name, her status, and her future. This revealed how deeply Bangladesh’s politics had become tied to individual figures. Leadership was not easily transferred, and institutions remained weak.
Khaleda Zia passed away today, Tuesday, December 30, 2025, closing a chapter that shaped modern Bangladesh. Her life covered a period of elections, protests, transitions, and repeated political deadlock. She was admired, criticised, challenged, and defended—often at the same time. Few leaders in the country’s history have inspired such strong and lasting reactions.
Her legacy is complex. She helped restore democratic processes but governed during years of intense division. She led mass movements but also presided over periods of instability. She spent years out of power, yet never lost political relevance. Her life shows how leadership in Bangladesh often carries both influence and limitation.
More than anything, Khaleda Zia’s story reflects the nature of Bangladeshi politics itself. Power was personal. Conflict was constant. Compromise was rare. Her career did not resolve these problems, but it made them visible. Through her rise, rule, resistance, and absence, the country saw both the strength and fragility of its political system.
With her death, one of the most dominant figures of Bangladesh’s post-1990 political era moves into history. The generation shaped directly by the country’s early struggles is slowly fading. What remains are institutions still searching for trust, and a political culture still learning how to move beyond confrontation.
Khaleda Zia’s life will continue to be debated for years to come. But beyond debate, her place in history is secure. She did not just participate in Bangladesh’s politics; she stood at its centre, reflecting its conflicts, endurance, and unfinished journey.
