Today, Saturday, marks the 82nd birthday of former Prime Minister and late Chairperson of BNP, Khaleda Zia. She was born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur. Khaleda Zia was the third child of Eskandar Majumder and Taiyeba Majumder. This is the first birthday of the revered woman, known as an uncompromising leader, since her passing. However, like the past few years, there will be no grand celebrations surrounding her birthday this time either. To pray for the salvation of Khaleda Zia’s soul on her birthday, BNP will organize Milad and Dua Mahfils at party offices or mosques across the country, including Dhaka. Centrally, this Dua Mahfil will be held at 11 AM at BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan. Senior BNP leaders will be present at the event.
In a new context following the 2024 mass uprising, this marks Khaleda Zia’s third birthday. Begum Khaleda Zia received permanent release on August 6, 2024, the day after the Awami League government’s fall due to the student-people’s uprising on August 5, 2024. Members of BNP and its associate organizations once celebrated their leader’s birthday on August 15 by cutting cakes. However, since 2016, they have opted to organize Milad and Dua Mahfils instead of any party programs. Khaleda Zia suffered from various illnesses for a long time. She passed away on December 30, 2025, after several months of treatment. The following day, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the South Plaza of the National Parliament House for Khaleda Zia’s Janaza (funeral prayer). After all formalities, Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside the grave of her husband, martyred President Ziaur Rahman.
Khaleda Zia is a luminous name in the history of Bangladesh’s politics and democratic movement. On May 30, 1981, then-President Ziaur Rahman was brutally assassinated at the Chittagong Circuit House. Immediately thereafter, homemaker Khaleda Zia entered the politics of BNP, a party founded by Ziaur Rahman. Responding to the demands of party activists, she became a primary member of BNP on January 2, 1982. Subsequently, she was elected Vice Chairman of the party and then Chairperson in 1984. Following her uncompromising movement against dictator Ershad, she was elected Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister in the 1991 national elections. In total, Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister for three terms. Additionally, she was the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament twice. In 1993, she became the first female Chairperson of SAARC.
Following the One-Eleven (the military-backed caretaker government), the then caretaker government imprisoned her on September 3, 2007. She remained incarcerated until September 2008. That year, she spent her birthday in prison. Even while in prison, her unyielding stance forced the government to abandon the ‘minus two formula’ and hold a parliamentary election.
As party chief, Khaleda Zia not only led her party in parliamentary elections but also achieved a hundred percent personal success on the electoral field. She contested 23 seats across five parliamentary elections and won every single one. From 1991 to 2001, Khaleda Zia ran for five seats in each of the four parliamentary elections and won all of them. Subsequently, in 2008, Khaleda Zia contested three seats and won all three. However, in the 9th national parliamentary election in December 2008, BNP failed to achieve the desired results and could not form the government. Following this, under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, BNP boycotted the unilateral election on January 5, 2014.
Before the 11th parliamentary election, Khaleda Zia was sent to prison on February 8, 2018, in two corruption cases. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, following an appeal from her family, Khaleda Zia was granted temporary release on March 25, 2020, by executive order of the government, on the condition that she receive treatment at her home and not travel abroad. However, even after her temporary release, Khaleda Zia remained confined to her Gulshan residence, Firoza. During this time, due to illness, she had to be hospitalized repeatedly. Acting on the advice of the medical board, her family members repeatedly sought permission to take Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment, but the then Awami League government denied it each time, citing the conditions of her temporary release.
When the Awami League government fell due to the student-people’s uprising on August 5, 2024, opposition leaders were released from prison one by one. Three days after the fall of the Awami League government, on August 8, an interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus took charge of state affairs. Subsequently, through the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12 of the current year, BNP gained a majority of seats and returned to power after two decades. Following Khaleda Zia’s death, her eldest son Tareque Rahman, who is currently the Prime Minister, has been serving as the Chairman of BNP.
Khaleda Zia’s Birthday Programs: In a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, it was announced that today, Saturday, on the occasion of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s 82nd birthday, Milad and Dua Mahfils will be held at party offices or mosques across the country, including Dhaka. In Dhaka, the Milad and Dua Mahfil will take place at BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan at 11 AM today. Senior BNP leaders will be present at the event. Additionally, all levels of leaders, activists, and supporters of BNP and its associate organizations across the country, including Dhaka, have been requested to participate in these Milad and Dua Mahfils.
Furthermore, on the occasion of Khaleda Zia’s birthday, an event to distribute aid among the poor and helpless and a Dua program have been organized this afternoon at the T&T field in the Karail slum area of Mohakhali, Dhaka-17 constituency. BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will be present as the chief guest.
Dua Mahfil in Shibganj on Khaleda Zia’s Birthday: Yesterday, a Dua Mahfil was held in Shibganj, Bogura, on the occasion of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s birthday. As part of a three-day program by Shibganj Upazila BNP, this Dua Mahfil was organized yesterday after Juma prayers by Khalid Hasan Arman, President of Upazila Juba Dal, at Baitul Mamur Jame Mosque in Berabala Garibpur village, Ward No. 3 of the municipality. Prior to the prayers, Khalid Hasan Arman addressed the local worshipers. Present at the occasion were SM Tajul Islam, Acting President of Shibganj Upazila BNP; Advocate Abdul Wahab, General Secretary; Master Harunur Rashid, Organizing Secretary; Abdul Karim, General Secretary of Pouro BNP; Abu Taher, Organizing Secretary; Z.M. Matin, Abdul Hannan, Fazlur Rahman; Raihanul Haque Rony, General Secretary of Swechhasebak Dal; Samiul Islam Akkas; Abu Shahin, President of Pouro Juba Dal; Mahadi Hasan Tamal, Atikur Rahman Sujon; Mir Muinmur Rahman Mun, General Secretary of Upazila Chhatra Dal; Al-Amin, President of Pouro Chhatra Dal, among others.