Begum Khaleda: Bangladesh loses tall leader at a critical juncture
The Tribune Editorial: She strengthened the BNP as the main counterweight to Hasina’s Awami League and ensured that the two-party system survived in Bangladesh.
KHALEDA Zia’s death has created a huge political vacuum in Bangladesh less than two months before the trouble-torn country goes to the polls. The former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader shaped an era that was defined by her fierce rivalry with Awami League supremo Sheikh Hasina. She epitomised nationalist pride and resistance to one-party dominance, especially during times when democratic space seemed to shrink. However, her rule was marked by governance challenges and the rise of hardline elements within the BNP-led coalition. What is undeniable is that she strengthened the BNP as the main counterweight to the Awami League and ensured that the two-party system survived in Bangladesh. Over the past decade and a half, she not only acted as the Opposition spearhead against the Hasina regime but also battled corruption charges. She was convicted and sentenced to jail in 2018, but was granted a presidential pardon and released a day after Hasina was ousted from power in August 2024.
The epic battle of the Begums is now a thing of the past. Hasina has been living in exile in India — her return to Bangladesh is ruled out after a special tribunal sentenced her to death for “crimes against humanity”. The ban on Awami League’s activities has put the BNP in pole position to win the upcoming polls. Having lost a towering leader, the Pakistan-friendly BNP is banking on Khaleda’s son and heir apparent Tarique Rahman, who recently returned home after having lived in London in self-exile for the past 17 years. Rahman has made a positive start by seeking the support of all stakeholders to build a prosperous and safe nation.
Delhi-Dhaka relations came under strain during Khaleda’s reign over cross-border insurgency and the use of Bangladeshi soil by militant groups, besides her government’s strategic alignment with Pakistan and China. The future of bilateral ties will hinge on whether Dhaka’s next-generation leaders choose cooperation over confrontation.
