Thursday, 21 November, 2024
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is set to attend the Armed Forces Day event after a 12-year hiatus, marking a significant moment in her political journey. The former prime minister, once one of the country's most popular leaders, has been a key figure in Bangladeshi politics for decades.
Khaleda Zia, the widow of Bangladesh's founder Ziaur Rahman, has long been a powerful voice in the opposition, particularly against the ruling Awami League (AL) government. Her return to the Armed Forces Day commemoration, a highly significant national event, comes after years of legal and political battles, most notably her imprisonment under what many, including her supporters, claim were politically motivated charges.
Khaleda Zia’s time in jail has been a point of contention, with her supporters asserting that the Awami League government fabricated cases against her to silence a leading opposition voice. In 2018, she was sentenced to prison on corruption charges related to the Zia Orphanage Trust case, a ruling widely criticized by her party and international observers as politically motivated. Her conviction barred her from participating in the 2019 general elections.
Her imprisonment sparked nationwide protests, with critics arguing that it was part of a broader effort to undermine the BNP and stifle political dissent. The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, insisted that the cases were based on legitimate legal grounds and were necessary to combat corruption.
Khaleda Zia was granted bail in 2020 due to health reasons, and her legal team continues to fight the cases against her, while her political influence remains strong among her supporters.
Her attendance at the event is expected to energize her party’s supporters and may signal a renewed effort to challenge the current government. The BNP, under her leadership, has been vocal in its criticism of the AL government’s policies and alleged authoritarian practices.
The Armed Forces Day event, a key occasion for showcasing the nation's military strength and unity, will now likely have an added political dimension, as it brings together a former prime minister and one of the country’s most influential political figures after years of absence from such high-profile state events.
This development marks another chapter in the long-standing political rivalry between the BNP and the AL, which has shaped Bangladesh's political landscape for over three decades.
Khaleda Zia's Political Legacy
As a popular leader, Khaleda Zia’s political career is marked by her leadership of the BNP, a party she took to power in 1991. Her tenure as prime minister from 1991 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006, saw significant political and economic developments in Bangladesh. Known for her strong stance on nationalism, she built a reputation for being a defender of Bangladesh's sovereignty.
Khaleda Zia's return to the Armed Forces Day event is seen as a significant moment in the political climate of Bangladesh, highlighting her ongoing relevance in national politics despite years of legal and personal challenges.
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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is set to attend the Armed Forces Day event after a 12-year hiatus, marking a significant moment in her political journey. The former prime minister, once one of the country's most popular leaders, has been a key figure in Bangladeshi politics for decades.
Khaleda Zia, the widow of Bangladesh's founder Ziaur Rahman, has long been a powerful voice in the opposition, particularly against the ruling Awami League (AL) government. Her return to the Armed Forces Day commemoration, a highly significant national event, comes after years of legal and political battles, most notably her imprisonment under what many, including her supporters, claim were politically motivated charges.
Khaleda Zia’s time in jail has been a point of contention, with her supporters asserting that the Awami League government fabricated cases against her to silence a leading opposition voice. In 2018, she was sentenced to prison on corruption charges related to the Zia Orphanage Trust case, a ruling widely criticized by her party and international observers as politically motivated. Her conviction barred her from participating in the 2019 general elections.
Her imprisonment sparked nationwide protests, with critics arguing that it was part of a broader effort to undermine the BNP and stifle political dissent. The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, insisted that the cases were based on legitimate legal grounds and were necessary to combat corruption.
Khaleda Zia was granted bail in 2020 due to health reasons, and her legal team continues to fight the cases against her, while her political influence remains strong among her supporters.
Her attendance at the event is expected to energize her party’s supporters and may signal a renewed effort to challenge the current government. The BNP, under her leadership, has been vocal in its criticism of the AL government’s policies and alleged authoritarian practices.
The Armed Forces Day event, a key occasion for showcasing the nation's military strength and unity, will now likely have an added political dimension, as it brings together a former prime minister and one of the country’s most influential political figures after years of absence from such high-profile state events.
This development marks another chapter in the long-standing political rivalry between the BNP and the AL, which has shaped Bangladesh's political landscape for over three decades.
Khaleda Zia's Political Legacy
As a popular leader, Khaleda Zia’s political career is marked by her leadership of the BNP, a party she took to power in 1991. Her tenure as prime minister from 1991 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006, saw significant political and economic developments in Bangladesh. Known for her strong stance on nationalism, she built a reputation for being a defender of Bangladesh's sovereignty.
Khaleda Zia's return to the Armed Forces Day event is seen as a significant moment in the political climate of Bangladesh, highlighting her ongoing relevance in national politics despite years of legal and personal challenges.
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