In her first public statement after being released from jail, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has made an impassioned plea to her fellow countrymen. Zia, who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urged the citizens to work towards building a "democratic Bangladesh where all religions are respected." Her remarks came at a time when the country is reeling under complex political and social challenges following Sheikh Hasina's ouster amid the ongoing protests.
"You have been praying for my health all this while. I am able to speak to you due to the blessings of Allah. We have been able to get independence from this fascist government. I pay my obeisance to the brave ones who gave their lives," Zia said in a video message in Bangla. "We have to form a new Bangladesh from this victory where the youth and students will be our hope," she added.
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Zia receives renewed passport
Meanwhile, Zia's party said that she received a renewed passport. The renewal process for her passport was completed on Tuesday. Subsequently, Zia's personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar received her renewed machine-readable passport on her behalf later that night, the BNP said. The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) chairperson, currently undergoing treatment for various ailments, was released on executive order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday following the collapse of the Hasina-led Awami League government.
Bangladesh President ordered release of Zia
After Hasina resigned as the country's Prime Minister, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of Khaleda Zia. Zia was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2018 on corruption charges. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader had served as Bangladesh's Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. India's relations with Zia's government had strained after she refused to crack down on the extremist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
Zia was born on August 15, 1945, and was married to former military general and President Ziaur Rahman, who founded BNP, sharing two sons with him. Ziaur Rahman's rise to leadership began with founding father and first President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination and ended with his own assassination in 1981. Described as shy and devoted to raising her two sons, Zia formally entered politics after her husband's death and took over the leadership of the BNP.
Bangladesh protests
It should be noted here that the protests began peacefully as frustrated students demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs, but the demonstrations have since morphed into an unprecedented challenge and uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party. More than 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation as of now with Sheikh Hasina resigning from her post in the wake of mounting protests.
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