Dhaka: The 81st birthday of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was celebrated across the country with doa and milad mahfils. The BNP, adhering to its directive, refrained from cake-cutting or hosting grand events, opting instead for religious observances at BNP offices and mosques, including in the capital city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus sent a bouquet to Begum Khaleda Zia as a birthday gesture. Additionally, the Chinese Ambassador’s office extended their regards with a bouquet on Thursday night. At the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters, a doa mahfil was held, where prayers were offered for those who lost their lives in significant national events, including the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 mass uprising, and the 2024 student-people uprising, alongside prayers for the recovery of the injured.
Begum Khaleda Zia, born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, is a central figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape. She married then Pakistan Army Captain Ziaur Rahman while studying at Dinajpur Surendranath College. The couple had two sons, including BNP’s current acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. After her husband’s assassination in 1981, she entered politics, eventually becoming the BNP Chairperson unopposed in 1984 and leading the party through pivotal movements against autocracy in the late 1980s.
In 1991, Begum Zia rose to prominence as the country’s first female Prime Minister, serving three terms. Her political journey saw her chair the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1993. Her later years in office and subsequent imprisonment marked tumultuous periods, with her health suffering significantly during her incarceration.
Despite political and health challenges, Begum Zia endures as a symbol for her party. Her birthday, coinciding with the assassination day of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, remains politically sensitive. Despite controversies, the BNP continues to honor the day with subdued observances, focusing on prayers and fostering party unity.