Khaleda Zia to Contest Upcoming Elections as Bangladesh’s Political Scene Shifts

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is set to contest in the upcoming elections anticipated in February 2024, according to her political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). This announcement was made on Monday by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior leader within the BNP, who confirmed that Zia will run in three constituencies.

At 80 years old, Zia has been a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape for decades. Her party, the BNP, is considered a leading contender in the forthcoming elections. Zia’s political journey has been marked by significant challenges, including a history of imprisonment and health issues. She has faced numerous political struggles against her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina, who was overthrown in a mass uprising in August 2024.

Zia served as Prime Minister three times but was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges during Hasina’s administration. Following her release last year, which came after Hasina’s exit from power, Zia has been recuperating from health complications. She was previously restricted from seeking medical treatment abroad.

Alongside Zia, her son, Tarique Rahman, who has been residing in London since 2008, will also stand for election. Rahman, known in Bangladesh as Tarique Zia, claims he fled the country to escape politically motivated persecution. He has not returned to Bangladesh since leaving. Following the political shift, Rahman has had a significant legal victory, as he was acquitted of a life sentence imposed in absentia for a grenade attack during a 2004 rally led by Hasina, a charge he has consistently denied.

Historical Context of Rivalry

The political rivalry between Zia and Hasina has defined Bangladesh’s political narrative for decades. This clash, often referred to as the “Battle of the Begums,” stems from historical events dating back to the assassination of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1975. Shortly after this event, Zia’s husband, Ziaur Rahman, a deputy army chief at the time, took control and later became president in 1977 until his assassination in 1981.

Zia, then a young mother, stepped into the leadership of the BNP after her husband’s death. Initially underestimated, she emerged as a powerful political force, notably opposing military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Zia later collaborated with Hasina to remove Ershad from power in 1990, marking a significant turning point in Bangladeshi politics. For over a decade, the two women alternated in power, shaping the political landscape of the nation.

As the political climate evolves with the upcoming elections, the participation of Zia and Rahman signals a potential shift in alliances and power dynamics within Bangladesh. The BNP’s strategy in the elections will be closely observed, given the party’s historical influence and Zia’s enduring legacy in the country’s tumultuous political history.