Bangladesh Mourns Loss of Khaleda Zia, First Female PM, Who Died at 80 After Years of Rivalry with Sheikh Hasina.
Former Bangladeshi President and Military Hero's Widow Took Up His Political Mantle With Gusto, Gaining a Loyal Following for Her Uncompromising Stance Against the Military Dictatorship.
Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh whose long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country's politics for over three decades, has died at 80.
Her tenure as Prime Minister was marked by a series of bitter clashes with her arch-nemesis Hasina and allegations of corruption against Zia herself. The opposition boycotted her election results in 1996, resulting in her ouster.
Zia's two periods in office were punctuated by accusations of corruption, which ultimately led to her downfall at the hands of Hasina in 2009. Her party was subjected to routine harassment and oppression under Hasina's rule, with many BNP leaders jailed or forced into exile.
Despite years of imprisonment and declining health, Zia vowed to campaign in elections set for February 2026, but her condition continued to deteriorate before her death.
In a statement released after her passing, Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described Zia as "a symbol of the democratic movement." Her son Tarique Rahman, who had lived in exile in the UK for 18 years, has returned to Bangladesh to contest the upcoming elections.
Former Bangladeshi President and Military Hero's Widow Took Up His Political Mantle With Gusto, Gaining a Loyal Following for Her Uncompromising Stance Against the Military Dictatorship.
Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh whose long-standing rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country's politics for over three decades, has died at 80.
Her tenure as Prime Minister was marked by a series of bitter clashes with her arch-nemesis Hasina and allegations of corruption against Zia herself. The opposition boycotted her election results in 1996, resulting in her ouster.
Zia's two periods in office were punctuated by accusations of corruption, which ultimately led to her downfall at the hands of Hasina in 2009. Her party was subjected to routine harassment and oppression under Hasina's rule, with many BNP leaders jailed or forced into exile.
Despite years of imprisonment and declining health, Zia vowed to campaign in elections set for February 2026, but her condition continued to deteriorate before her death.
In a statement released after her passing, Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described Zia as "a symbol of the democratic movement." Her son Tarique Rahman, who had lived in exile in the UK for 18 years, has returned to Bangladesh to contest the upcoming elections.
. I did some digging and found out that life expectancy in Bangladesh has been increasing over the past few decades, especially among women 
. Maybe Khaleda Zia's health wasn't as bad as it seemed back then 
.
. I found some stats showing that Bangladesh has one of the highest number of people in exile in the world 
. Did you know that only about 30% of those exiles have returned to their home country? 
. I also found some info saying that the BNP party has seen a significant decline in popularity over the past few years 
. Guess we'll have to wait and see how the upcoming elections play out 
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is this just a coincidence or is he trying to capitalize on his mom's legacy? 
and what about all those allegations of corruption against Khaleda Zia? was it just politics as usual or were there some deeper forces at play? 
I'm not buying the "democratic movement" line from Interim PM Yunus either... too convenient. 
it's so sad that Khaleda Zia is gone 
she was a real trailblazer for women in politics in Bangladesh and her fight against military rule was inspiring 
even though her time as PM was marked by controversy, it's clear that she was a force to be reckoned with 
her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina will always be an interesting footnote in Bangladeshi history 
I hope Tarique Rahman can bring some closure and positivity to the party after his dad's passing 
. While her unwavering stance against the military dictatorship was admirable, it also led to a plethora of allegations and accusations that often overshadowed her accomplishments 
. Her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina was as much a defining feature of Bangladesh's politics as it was a personal vendetta 
. Nonetheless, Khaleda Zia remains an important figure in Bangladeshi history, representing the struggles and triumphs of women in politics 
.
. On a more serious note, I'm glad to see Tarique Rahman returning to Bangladesh to contest the elections - hope he can bring some positivity & healing to his country 
Khaleda Zia's legacy is a complex one... She was definitely a trailblazer as the first female PM of Bangladesh, and her unwavering stance against the military dictatorship was inspiring in its own way 
. But, at the same time, she played a huge role in perpetuating these very same systems, which ultimately oppressed so many people under her rule 
. And let's not forget all the allegations of corruption that dogged her entire career 
?
... but at the same time, you can't deny the impact she had on Bangladeshi politics 
.
. but what's even more fascinating is that Zia's son Tarique Rahman has just returned to Bangladesh after 18 years in exile... will he be able to make a difference in the upcoming elections? only time will tell 
Their long-standing feud also brings up questions about the nature of power and how it can be both a means to an end and an end in itself. 
It's all so... human. 
. Still, Khaleda remained a symbol of hope for many in Bangladesh during her time as PM 
. Tarique Rahman's return to contest elections is going to be interesting 
.
anyway, i'm curious to see how tarique rahman is gonna shake things up with his return to bangladesh 
. but at the same time, those corruption allegations are still a big part of her legacy, and it's hard to separate the good from the bad