A leader who strengthened our struggle for democracy

The death of Khaleda Zia closes a definitive chapter in Bangladesh's history, one defined by the turbulent evolution of a young democracy.

- 

To understand the gravity of her passing on Tuesday, one must look beyond the polarised politics of recent years and recognise the extraordinary arc of a woman who seemed never destined to lead, yet went on to make enduring contributions to the nation’s struggle for democracy. Described early in her life as a “shy housewife” content in the shadow of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda began her transformation amid the blood and chaos of 1981. The assassination of her husband left the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) fractured and leaderless. Senior leaders doubted her political capability.

Yet, when the party teetered on the brink of disintegration, she stepped into the void. It was on the streets of Dhaka that her shyness disappeared and her “uncompromising” persona emerged.