Staff Reporter :
The BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has an unbeaten record in elections as she won 18 seats in 18 in the previous years.
Her consistent victories across 18 constituencies over three decades highlight not only her personal popularity but also the political importance of those constituencies for her party.
The electoral career of Khaleda Zia stands out as a remarkable chapter. The constituencies she contested later became “strongholds” for her party, and in the eyes of voters, these seats turned into “symbols of regime change.”
Analysts believe her return in the upcoming 2026 13th National Parliamentary Election will mark a turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
In the upcoming February election, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is set to contest from three constituencies once again.
Feni-1, her paternal home seat, where she has a record of consecutive victories; Bogra-7, her in-laws’ home seat, where she also holds a history of wins; and Dinajpur-3, her birthplace seat – where she will contest for the first time.
Meanwhile, extensive campaigns have already begun in Bogra Sadar-6, where BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is contesting, and Bogra-7, where former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is running under the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Local and central leaders have started distributing leaflets and organizing rallies.
A new slogan is resonating among party activists – “Putrabadhu Khaleda, gorbo moder alada” (Daughter-in-law Khaleda, our unique pride).
BNP leaders say that the people of Bogra had long demanded that both Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia contest from Bogra – a wish that has now become reality. “Begum Khaleda Zia endured long years of imprisonment and political persecution under the autocratic Sheikh Hasina regime.
After 16 years, we finally have our beloved leaders back in the electoral field. The election wave has begun – from Bogra, we will ensure a landslide victory for Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman,” they said.
Following the anti-autocracy movement, Begum Khaleda Zia contested five constituencies in the landmark 1991 general election – Bogra-7, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-9, Feni-1, and Chattogram-8. She won in all five. She chose to represent Feni-1 and relinquished the remaining four seats.
In the 1996 general election, she again contested five seats – Bogra-6, Bogra-7, Feni-1, Lakshmipur-2, and Chattogram-1 – and won all of them. She decided to retain Feni-1 and gave up the others.
In the 2001 general election, Khaleda Zia contested the same five constituencies – Bogra-6, Bogra-7, Feni-1, Lakshmipur-2, and Chattogram-1 – and once again achieved a clean sweep. This time, she chose to keep Bogra-6 as her seat.
In 2008, the election law was amended to limit candidates to contesting a maximum of three constituencies. That year, she ran in Bogra-6, Bogra-7, and Feni-1, winning all three. She opted to represent Feni-1.
Begum Khaleda Zia boycotted the 2014 election, while in 2018, she could not participate due to imprisonment in what the party called a “fabricated corruption case.” The BNP also boycotted the 2024 twelfth parliamentary election.
According to political analysts, the 2026 election may symbolize not just Khaleda Zia’s personal comeback but also a revival of democratic spirit in Bangladesh’s politics.
