On February 27, 1991, Bangladesh held its first truly free and fair election in over a decade. The result was a historic upset: the BNP won 140 seats, and on March 20, 1991, Khaleda Zia was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh — the first woman ever to hold that office in her country, and only the second female head of government in the entire Muslim world, after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.

Her first term is widely regarded by historians as the most substantively productive of her three in office. The achievements were sweeping across multiple domains:

Restoring Parliamentary Democracy. One of her government’s first acts was to restore the parliamentary system of government through the 12th Amendment to the Constitution in 1991 — converting Bangladesh from a presidential to a parliamentary democracy. This was a unanimous parliamentary vote, cutting across party lines. It was a foundational democratic act.

A Revolution in Education. Perhaps her most enduring legacy lies in the classroom. Her government made primary education free and compulsory for every child in Bangladesh. Tuition for girls was abolished all the way through the 10th grade. Female stipend programmes were piloted and then expanded nationwide, driving a dramatic surge in girls’ school enrolment that fundamentally changed the social fabric of the country. By 1995, the student pass rate in the SSC examination had risen from under 32% in 1990 to over 73% — a near-doubling in five years.

Economic Reform. Her government moved swiftly to liberalise an economy that had for decades followed an inward-looking, state-controlled model. She introduced Value Added Tax (VAT), enacted the Bank Company Act (1991) and the Financial Institutions Act (1993), granted Bangladesh Bank greater autonomy, and encouraged private investment. The ready-made garment sector — which would go on to become the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy — experienced 29% employment growth in just five years. Nearly 200,000 women entered the garment industry during her term, directly linked to the expanded female education her policies had enabled.

Infrastructure. The physical construction of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge — one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Bangladesh’s history — began during her first term, connecting the divided east and west of the country. Her government also oversaw the Caretaker Government Bill, passed to ensure future elections would be held under neutral supervision.

Her term was not without difficulty. A devastating cyclone in April 1991 — just weeks after she took office — killed over 130,000 people and caused more than $2 billion in damage. Her government’s response to the disaster, in coordination with international partners, was widely praised. She also delivered Bangladesh’s first-ever female Prime Ministerial address to the UN General Assembly in 1991 — delivered in Bengali, a deliberate and powerful statement of national pride.

In February 1996, she won a second term in a general election boycotted by the opposition. Faced with mass protests and strikes, she took the principled decision to resign — after first passing the Caretaker Government Bill to institutionalise neutral electoral oversight. In a political culture defined by zero-sum hostility, the peaceful transfer of power was itself a significant democratic gesture, though often overlooked in later assessments of her record.

From 1996 to 2001, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League governed Bangladesh, and Khaleda Zia led a vigorous opposition. The rivalry between the two women — both former Prime Ministers, both daughters of assassinated leaders, both commanding vast popular followings — came to define Bangladeshi politics for a generation. The press dubbed it the “Battle of the Begums,” though the phrase understated the depth and the consequence of their political disagreement.

The contest was not merely personal. It was ideological: Hasina’s Awami League championed Bengali nationalism, secularism, and close ties with India. Khaleda Zia’s BNP stood for Bangladeshi nationalism, Islamic cultural identity, a more balanced foreign policy, and greater independence from Indian influence. These were genuine differences over what kind of country Bangladesh should be — and millions of Bangladeshis identified passionately with one side or the other.

In 2001, the BNP returned to power with a commanding electoral majority. Khaleda Zia, at the head of a four-party alliance, was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time on October 10, 2001.

Her second full term (2001–2006) unfolded in a harder political climate. Bangladesh faced rising militancy, growing political polarisation, and intense confrontation between the major parties. The Chittagong arms haul of 2004 — a massive cache of weapons intended for Indian insurgents — created a serious diplomatic crisis with New Delhi and raised questions about governance and security. Corruption allegations grew. In 2005, Forbes magazine included her on its annual list of the world’s most powerful women — a recognition of her global stature that came alongside mounting domestic criticism.

Internationally, her second term was marked by the “Look East” policy — deepening ties with China, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia. Bangladesh and China formalised a Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation in 2002. She maintained warm relationships with Pakistan and the wider Muslim world, and championed SAARC as a forum for the region’s smaller nations. At the UN General Assembly, she continued to advocate for Bangladesh’s interests on water rights, peacekeeping, and development.

At home, her government is credited with significant macroeconomic and infrastructure initiatives. The Jamuna Bridge, begun under her first term, was completed and opened during the interim period. GDP growth continued. Female literacy and school enrollment continued to rise, building on the foundations her education policies had laid. Yet the political situation deteriorated sharply. By 2006, the country was in crisis. Her term ended and power was handed to a caretaker government — which was subsequently replaced, in January 2007, by a military-backed administration that would prove to be a turning point in her fortunes.

On August 5, 2024, something extraordinary happened. A massive student-led uprising toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government. She fled Bangladesh. Within hours, President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened a meeting with military chiefs and political party leaders — and the unanimous decision was made: Begum Khaleda Zia must be freed immediately. After years of imprisonment and house arrest, after the humiliation of denied medical treatment and stripped police escorts, she was free.

Her first public statement since 2018 was a model of grace. Delivered from her hospital bed via video link, it made no mention of her rival’s name. Instead, she praised “the brave people who were in a do-or-die struggle to make possible the impossible” and called for “love and peace” in rebuilding Bangladesh. The restraint and magnanimity of those words moved millions. Even in her most triumphant moment, she chose dignity over score-settling.

In January 2025, she traveled to London for medical treatment that had been denied to her for years. She returned to Bangladesh in May, after 117 days abroad, to a country eager to celebrate her. Her final months were spent in and out of hospital. On November 21, 2025, she made her last public appearance — at a reception to mark Armed Forces Day, in a wheelchair, pale and visibly frail but present, greeted with deep respect by Bangladesh’s new leadership.

She was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on November 23, 2025, with a severe heart and lung infection. On December 25, her son Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh from London — after 17 years in exile, his own acquittals finally secured. They were reunited. Five days later, on December 30, 2025, at 6:00 in the morning — shortly after the Fajr prayer — Begum Khaleda Zia passed away. She was 79 years old.

✦ ✦ ✦