Khaleda Zia’s 82nd birthday today
Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s 82nd birthday is being observed today, with the BNP organising prayers and other programmes in honour of the late leader, widely respected for her role in Bangladesh’s democratic movement.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a series of programmes marking the late leader’s birthday. Doa and milad mahfils will be organised at BNP offices and mosques across the country, according to a party press release.
In Dhaka, the main programme will begin at 11am at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, with senior party leaders expected to attend.
Khaleda Zia, who served as prime minister three times, was widely regarded by her supporters as an uncompromising leader in the struggle for democracy in Bangladesh.
She became BNP chairperson in 1983 and remained in the position until her death on 30 December 2025.
She was Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Muslim world.
Khaleda Zia was born to Iskandar Majumder and Taiyaba Majumder in Dinajpur on 15 August 1945. Her family originally hailed from southeastern Feni.
She studied at Dinajpur Government Girls High School before attending Surendranath College.
In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman, then a military captain who later became a Liberation War hero, proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence and served as the country’s president.
As First Lady, Khaleda Zia accompanied her husband on official engagements and met several international leaders, including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.
Following President Ziaur Rahman’s assassination during an abortive coup in 1981, she joined the BNP as a general member on 2 January 1982.
She was elected vice-chairperson in March 1983 before becoming the party’s chairperson, a position she held until her death.
The BNP has called for the nationwide prayer programmes as part of its observance of her birthday, with party leaders and supporters expected to pay tribute to her political legacy.
