Khaleda Zia: A Political Journey Marked by Power, Struggle, and Controversy – What Was Her Relationship With India?

Dhaka: Bangladesh mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the age of 80. A towering figure in Bangladeshi politics, she served three terms as the country’s first female Prime Minister and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades. Her death early Tuesday morning around 6 a.m. marks the end of a significant and turbulent chapter in Bangladesh’s political history.

Rise to Power Amid Tragedy
Born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur district, Khaleda Zia entered politics after the assassination of her husband, then-President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. Though new to politics at the time, she assumed leadership of the BNP and rapidly became one of the nation’s most influential leaders. She first became Prime Minister in 1991, breaking ground as Bangladesh’s first woman to hold the office.

Tenure Marked by Achievements and Controversies
Khaleda Zia served three terms, with her last from 2001 to 2006. Her administrations promoted free-market reforms, privatization, and infrastructure development. However, her government was also accused of corruption, political violence, administrative inefficiencies, and fostering extremism, leading to public disillusionment. Her political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, now the country’s Prime Minister, remained bitter and deep-rooted throughout her career.

Legal Challenges and Health Struggles
In 2018, Khaleda Zia was imprisoned on corruption charges. Despite repeated appeals from her party and family for medical treatment abroad, the government denied permission. Over the years, her health deteriorated, leading to prolonged hospitalizations both in Bangladesh and abroad. She is survived by her elder son, Tarique Rahman, who recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile, and her late younger son, Arafat Rahman Coco, who passed away in Malaysia years ago.

Personal Background and Political Ascent
Khaleda married Ziaur Rahman in 1960 while continuing her education at Dinajpur’s Surendranath College. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, her husband rebelled against Pakistan’s army. Following his assassination in 1981, Khaleda Zia assumed the vice-presidency of BNP in January 1984 and became party chairperson in May 1984, a position she reclaimed in 2010.

Relationship With India
Khaleda Zia was often perceived as Pakistan-leaning, and her tenure saw strained relations with India. Her governments were accused of allowing Bangladeshi territory to be used by anti-India elements and insurgent groups active in Northeast India. Though she denied such claims, several violent incidents during her administration fueled mistrust. Unlike her political rival Sheikh Hasina, who cultivated stronger ties with India while balancing relations with China and Pakistan, Khaleda Zia’s foreign policy contributed to a more skeptical Indo-Bangladesh relationship.

With her passing, Bangladesh has lost a leader whose political journey was defined by power, struggle, and controversy. Her legacy will continue to spark debate and reflection on the nation’s political evolution for years to come.