Who is Khaleda Zia? Bangladesh President Orders Her Release From Jail Amid Crisis

Zia was born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, East Bengal (now Bangladesh). In 1959, she married Ziaur Rahman, a leading figure in the Bangladeshi independence movement and a war hero. Zia showed little interest in politics until her husband became president, a term that began in 1977 and ended in 1981 when he was assassinated.

After her husband was assassinated in 1981 while serving as leader, Zia became active in politics and served as chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party from May 16 to October 30, 1984. She won the general election in 1991 and was elected prime minister. During her first term, Zia tried to address Bangladesh’s economic problems and improve education, but a cyclone in 1991 was more severe than expected.

Zia won a second term in 1996 after protests broke out, but resigned the following month. She returned to politics in 2001, promising to fight corruption and terrorism. She resigned in late 2006. Zia was arrested on corruption charges by the military-backed government that took power after her resignation in 2007.

Khaleda Zia has two sons:

  • Tariq Rahman (1967) – The eldest son, currently the acting president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has also had his life clouded by legal troubles, including a life sentence in absentia for his alleged role in a 2004 grenade attack. He currently lives in London.
  • Arafat Rahman “Koko” (born 1967) – Koko was a relatively inactive politician who died of cardiac arrest in July 2015

Why was Khaleda Zia sent to prison?

Khaleda Zia was sentenced to prison mainly for her involvement in the corruption case of the Zia Orphanage Trust. In February 2018, a Dhaka court found her guilty of stealing more than 21 million Bangladeshi taka (about 252,000 US dollars) that was intended for the orphanage.

The case stems from an allegation that she stole outside donations for charity, specifically an orphanage established in the name of her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman.

She was initially sentenced to five years in prison, but when additional charges were brought against her in the Zia Charity Trust corruption case, her sentence was eventually increased to a total of 17 years. Her supporters strongly criticized the charges and her subsequent imprisonment, saying they were politically motivated.

Khaleda Zia released

Bangladesh’s former prime minister and Bangladesh National Party leader Khaleda Zia has been ordered to be released by President Mohammad Shahabuddin. The decision comes amid a major political crisis after her rival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled after violent protests broke out across the country.

The president issued the order for Zia’s release at a meeting that included military leaders and opposition figures, which unanimously decided to release Zia and others detained in recent protests. The unrest in Bangladesh was sparked by dissatisfaction with Hasina’s government, especially over a controversial job quota system, and has led to severe violence and casualties.

Zia’s return to politics could galvanize the opposition and change the political landscape in Bangladesh, as her Bangladesh Nationalist Party attempts to regain power. The future of Bangladesh will depend largely on how the government and opposition handle issues of public opinion, governance and stability in a deeply divided political environment in the coming weeks and months.

Also Read | List of Prime Ministers of Bangladesh (1971-2024)