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Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Khaleda Zia

Begum Khaleda Zia (Bengali: খালেদা জিয়া)(born August 15, 1945) is the former First Lady of Bangladesh (1977–1981), and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history and second in the Muslim world (only after Ms Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan in 1988–1990) to head a democratic government as prime minister. She served again from 2001 until 2006. She is the widow of the President and former army chief Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981, and leads his old party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Since the country's independence in 1971, Zia has spent around ten years ruling the country (being the longest-serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh). She has been elected to five separate parliamentary constituencies in the general elections of 1991, 1996 and 2001.
Forbes magazine ranked Mrs Zia at number 29 in 2005[1] and number 33 in 2006[2] in its list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.
Former president Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad made her husband Major General Ziaur Rahman Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army after Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who subsequently assumed power as Chief Martial Law Administrator following a series of military coups on and following National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Contents

Prime minister

First term

Zia with the then U.S. president Bill Clinton
Zia with the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva.
A neutral caretaker government oversaw elections on February 27, 1991 that were broadly considered to be free, fair and truly democratic. The BNP won 140 seats, 11 short of a majority. However, it was the only party capable of forming a government, and Khaleda Zia was sworn in as the country's first female prime minister on 20 March with the support of a majority of the deputies. Acting president Shahabuddin Ahmed granted her nearly all of the powers that were vested in the president at the time, effectively returning Bangladesh to a parliamentary system. With a unanimous vote cutting across all political lines, the BNP-led government formally restored the parliamentary system through the 12th amendment to the Constitution in 1991.
While in power, Begum Zia's government made considerable progress in the education sector, including introduction of free and compulsory primary education, tuition-free education for girls up to class ten, stipend for female students and the Food for Education program. It also goes to the credit of her government that during this period, the tree plantation had become a nationwide social movement. Further, it was in this period that the construction of the Jamuna Bridge was started. Khaleda Zia played a commendable role in revitalizing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It also increased the age limit for entry into the civil service from 27 years to 30 years and made highest budgetary allocation in the education sector.

Second term

The BNP had a landslide victory on February 15, 1996 general election to the sixth Jatiya Sangshad. The election was, however, boycotted by all other major parties who were demanding that the elections be held under a neutral caretaker government, following allegations of rigging in a by-election held in 1994. Turnout was estimated at around 25%, though the government at the time claimed it to be much higher. The short-lived parliament hastily introduced the Caretaker Government through 13th amendment to the Constitution, and then was dissolved to pave the way for the parliamentary elections. In the June 12, 1996 polls, BNP lost to Sheikh Hasina's Awami League but emerged as the largest opposition party in the country's parliamentary history with 116 seats.

Third term

Aiming to return to power, the BNP formed a four-party alliance on January 6, 1999 with its former political foe the Jatiya Party, and the Islamic party of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and the Islami Oikya Jot and launched several agitation programmes against the ruling Awami League. Khaleda Zia, like Falu has been criticized much for making alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, the party which opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and formed Razakar, Al-Badar and Al-Shams team to help West Pakistan to kill thousands of innocent people including the intellectuals of Bangladesh. Around three million people were killed by the West Pakistan Army with the help of Razakars (collaborators), Al-Badars and Al-Shams in 1971 within nine months of war.[3]
The four-party alliance then participated in the October 1, 2001 general elections and won the election with a two-third majority of seats in parliament and 46% of the vote (compared to the principal opposition party's 40%) and Khaleda Zia was once again sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Khaleda Zia's third term was plagued by rising religious militancy, continuing its spiralling of corruption (including successive damning reports by Transparency International), a rise in alleged attacks on minority groups (such as Hindus and Ahmadiyas as documented by the United States Department of State and Amnesty International) and an increasingly explosive political environment[4]. A particularly controversial piece of legislation introduced by the government was the banning of Ahmadiya publications in January 2004, which attracted considerable concern from international observers.
Khaleda Zia made a blunder by making Major General Moeen U Ahmed Chief of Army Staff by superseding 9 senior officers[5], which made all 9 her enemies and her choice Moeen, a batchmate of her brother Major Sayeed Eskandar (Retd.), betrayed her. Major General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, brother in law of Sayeed Eskandar, was made GOC of 9 Division to check Moeen, also betrayed Khaleda Zia supporting Moeen unlikely, who was also betrayed by Moeen. Masud was permanently superseded by Sheikh Hasina during Awami League period of 1996-2001 although he was a recruit of 'Raksmi Bahini', Awami League's first government Para-Military Force engaged in oppression and suppression to people. For betrayal Masud and Aminul Karim got reward with promotion to Lt. General posts where Fazlul Bari did not got anything other than transfer out of the country. Bari went to USA State Department in favor of Moeen for approval of Martial Law and make Moeen President. Later Masud and Bari were involved in a coup to topple Moeen and finally Moeen succeeded and oust both of them coming back from a trip outside. Sheikh Hasina rewarded Masud with extending his job of High Commissioner to Australia first with uniform and later without uniform at the pressure of some army officials due to his role in implementation of Moeen's assignment to arrest and torture on Tarique Rahman. Moeen used to decide everything while in power whether there were balance of power, system of government, local government, role of military etc.[6].
Khaleda Zia included Hussain Muhammad Ershad into 4 Party Alliances twice, once after 1996 when Awami League came to power[7] and after BNP came to power in 2001. But, later Ershad left the alliance as BNP did not give him desired seats in the planned parliamentary election of 2007[8].

End of term

On October 29, 2006 Khaleda Zia's term in office ended. On the eve of the last day rioting broke out on the streets of central Dhaka following uncertainty over who would succeed her as Chief Advisor (Chief of Caretaker Government of Bangladesh). On the same day evening, a presidential spokesman Mukhles Chowdhury declared that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Khondokar Mahmud Hasan (K M Hasan), who had been due to take over as Chief Advisor, would not be assuming the role due to ill health. [1] Subsequently, president Iajuddin Ahmed, assumed power as Chief Advisor on October 29, 2006. President tried his best and facing all odd. Presidential Advisor Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury met both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, solved political problems and met demands of Awami League and their allies. As a result, on 24 December Sheikh Hasina announced that her grand alliance will participate in coming elections. At her demand Presidential Adviser negotiated with Election Commission and managed to extend two days to file nominations and officially on 26 December 2006 all political parties joined the elections of planned 22 January 2007[9]. The date of election was scheduled 21 then 23 and finally it was rescheduled on 22 January 2007 for come to consensus. Then army chief Lt. General Moeen was involved in conspiracy to declare a state of emergency, which was made ready on 29 October 2006 following 'Logi-Boitha' event of previous day (28 October)and army was made stand by with one hour notice. Khaleda Zia did not try to understand that Moeen will betray whereas Mukhles Chowdhury was divulging general's hidden agenda as he was only obstacle to that. Mrs Zia was annoyed why state of emergency was obstructed. When H M Ershad's nomination was canceled, for the sake of holding elections what was done since late October 2006 until 3 January 2007 Mukhles Chowdhury had been urging all political fronts not to stop elections and not to do anything that hinders elections and opens way to take over by military.
Moeen group advised Zia to participate elections without Awami League and supported the formula of Hasina to go ahead with 'Logi-Boitha' and blockade programme to topple Iajuddin's Caretaker Government (CTG). The group tried to create division within CTG and foiled army deployment in aid to civil power.[10] There were three groups in army and one Aminul Karim had series of meetings with Moeen on military take over and he united the rival groups with the help of Fazlul Bari while Brig A T M Amin played major role in arresting and removing people from the government. Amin informed US diplomat that Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury was removed and Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury was removed and arrested. He also gave life threat to Mukhles Chowdhury. Intelligence attempted to assasinate Mukhles Chowdhury. Moeen and Aminul Karim had also secret meeting at Bangabhaban. Had Begum Zia understand the gravity of the situation she could allow Caretaker Government against so called State of Emergency and not to cancel Ershad's nomination. Military group betrayed with her[11]. It is still mysterious that why she did not receive phone calls from Presidential Advisor on 11 January 2007 when Moeen was obstructed at the gate of Bangabhaban. Even when thereafter MSP brought Moeen to his room then there had also been effort to connect with her from highest office at the part of political engagement as it was done with other top politicians and she was away. All including DGFI, SSF, 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army, 46 Brigade betrayed with democracy and constitution while President's Advisor was trying to the last for the sake of democracy and constitution. DG, NSI and Commandant, PGR was also loyal. Army had connection with Awami league and Moeen was superseded 9 senior officers in appointing army chief what was a great blunder of BNP government.
Khaleda Zia now realises that making Iajuddin Ahmed as the Chief Advisor was wrong[12].

After 2006

After tremendous domestic and international pressure and amid Awami League claims of partisanship, President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh but remained as the President of Bangladesh. Elections scheduled for January 22 were postponed. The new caretaker government led by former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, in its fight against corruption, has targeted many of Ms Zia's BNP ministers.
Ms Zia's eldest son, Tareque Rahman (Pino), was also arrested in March 2007 for corruption. It was later reported that, beginning on April 9, the government barred other politicians from visiting Ms Zia's residence due to the state of emergency, imposed in January, which prohibits political activity.[13] Youngest son of Ms Zia, Arafat Rahman (Coco), was arrested on April 16.[14]
Since United News Bangladesh (UNB) carried unverified reports of Arafat's arrest on April 16, it cited unnamed 'family sources' as claiming Ms Zia was considering exile. UNB said speculation was mounting Ms Zia would relocate to Saudi Arabia. It also noted her brother, Major (Retd.) Sayeed Iskandar was attempting to negotiate her exit from Bangladesh with authorities from the interim administration. The New Nation newspaper carried a report on April 17 stating Khaleda had in fact agreed to go into exile in return for the release of her youngest son.[15] The report said the Saudi government had expressed its willingness to accept Khaleda and her family members as royal guests. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's The Daily Star quoted an unnamed source who claimed Zia's decision to leave the nation meant authorities would now force Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, Zia's bitter rival who was then in the United States, to also embrace exile.[16] All these reports about exile and government pressure on Ms Zia were denied by the government.
On April 19, Khondker Babul Chowdhury, a member of the BNP national executive committee, filed the appeal urging the court to order the government not to send Khaleda abroad against her wish and challenging the reported confinement of Khaleda to her house. On April 22 the High Court issued a rule on the government to explain within five days why the court will not direct the government to produce Khaleda Zia before the court to prove that she is not confined to her house. On April 25, in what was viewed as a reversal, the government said that Zia's movement was not restricted and that she had not been under any pressure to leave the country; it also dropped its ban on Hasina's return.[17]
On May 7, the government was ordered by the High Court to explain restrictions on Ms Zia that were said to remain in place.[18]
On July 17, the Anti Corruption Commission Bangladesh (ACC) sent notices to both MS Zia and Ms Hasina, requesting that details of their assets be submitted to the commission within one week.[19]
Zia was asked to appear in court on September 27, 2007 in connection with a case for not submitting service returns for Daily Dinkal Publications Limited for years.[20]
On September 2, 2007, a case was filed against Ms Zia by the interim government for corruption regarding the awarding of contracts to Global Agro Trade Company in 2003,[21] and on September 3 she was arrested.[22] Her youngest son Arafat Rahman (Coco) along with 11 others was also detained after police recorded a corruption case against them involving irregularities at Chittagong port. A bribery case was also filed against current Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina (rival of Khaleda), detained in a special jail.[23] On the same day, Ms Zia expelled party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Joint Secretary General Whip Ashraf Hossain for breaching party discipline.[24] On September 30, Zia was granted bail by the High Court, which also ruled that the trial should be stopped[25][26] on the grounds that the emergency laws could not be applied to her actions before they were imposed in January 2007.[26] The government appealed this decision, however, and on October 4, 2007 the Supreme Court ruled that she should not be granted bail and that the trial should continue.[25][26]

After Khaleda Zia was detained, party standing committee members chose former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman and former Water Resources minister Major (Rtd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed to lead the BNP for the time being; Zia's supporters did not recognize this. Bangladesh Election Commission subsequently invited Hafizuddin's faction, rather than Zia's, to participate in talks, effectively recognizing the former as the legitimate BNP. Zia challenged this in court, but her appeal was rejected on April 10, 2008.[27]
Ms Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman (Coco) was released in August 2008, and her eldest son Tareque Rahman (Pino) was released on bail on September 3, 2008. Ms Zia had been granted bail on two of her four cases by this point, but remained in jail because bail had not been granted for the other two. Her lawyers said on September 4 that they would also seek bail for the other two cases.[28]

Evicted from home of Cantonment

Under the rule of Awami League Government, on 13 November 2010 she was forced to leave her 37 years old, palatial Dhaka Cantonment residence upon an order from High Court Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court. The house was originally the residence of the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS) of Bangladesh Army used by then DCS Major General Ziaur Rahman. He kept the same residence even after he had become the President of Bangladesh. The post of DCS of Bangladesh Army was abolished in his tenure. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman this house was leased-for-life to his widow Khaleda Zia at only ৳101 by then Acting President Justice Abdus Sattar on 12 June 1981, by then Former Army Chief of Bangladesh and Chief Martial Law Administrator Lieutenant General Hussain Mohammad Ershad in 15 June 1982 which according to Bangladesh Army law is illegal. After Leaving the house, she moved to the house at Gulshan of her brother Sayeed Iskandar.[29]
==Award s and honors== On 24 May 2011, New Jersey State Senate Honored Begum Khaleda Zia as Fighter of Democracy. Both treasury bench and opposition members of New Jersey State Senate unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Begum Zia and all the senators gave her a standing ovation. New Jersey State Senate accorded such honor to any foreign personality for the first time.[30][31]

See also

References

  1. ^ Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/11/JSK7.html.
  2. ^ "The 100 Most Powerful Women", Forbes, August 26, 2006.
  3. ^ Khan, Muazzam Hussain (2003), "Killing of Intellectuals", Banglapedia, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
  4. ^ Political Environment during Khaleda Zia's 3rd Term
  5. ^ http://www.albd.org/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269%3Aluxurious-cars-were-bought-by-looted-money-used-in-bnps-road-march-sheikh-hasina-&catid=46%3Aruninng-news&Itemid=80
  6. ^ http://leaks.hohesc.us/?view=08DHAKA692
  7. ^ http://www.mzamin.com/details.php?nid=MTg4NzM=&ty=MA==&s=MTg=&c=MQ==
  8. ^ http://banglanews24.com/detailsnews.php?nssl=5c0b22ae24d0082d80a0d52feb219798&nttl=22082012134014
  9. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/11/30/d6113001129.htm
  10. ^ Rahman, Waliur (January 8, 2007). "Is Bangladesh heading towards disaster?". BBC News.
  11. ^ http://www.countercurrents.org/samad110608.htm
  12. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=245015
  13. ^ "Politicians barred from visiting Khaleda Zia's residence", PTI (The Hindu), April 11, 2007.
  14. ^ "Bangladesh ex-PM son detained", Al Jazeera, April 16, 2007.
  15. ^ "Khaleda agrees to leave for exile: Arafat sent back to Cantonment residence", The New Nation, April 17, 2007.
  16. ^ "Khaleda agrees to fly out with Arafat", The Daily Star, April 17, 2007.
  17. ^ "Opposition welcomes B'desh U-turn", BBC News, April 26, 2007.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh High Court orders government to explain restrictions on ex-prime minister", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), May 8, 2007.
  19. ^ "Hasina, Khaleda given 7 days for wealth report", The Daily Star, July 18, 2007, Vol. 5 Num 1113.
  20. ^ "Khaleda asked to appear before court September 27", The Daily Star, August 27, 2007.
  21. ^ "Ex-PM sued on corruption charges in Bangladesh", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), September 2, 2007.
  22. ^ "Ex-PM is arrested in Bangladesh". BBC. 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  23. ^ Reuters.com, Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia, son detained
  24. ^ "Khaleda Zia expels BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan", ANI (andhranews.net), September 4, 2007.
  25. ^ a b "Bangladesh Supreme Court rejects bail for ex-premier Khaleda Zia in corruption case", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), October 4, 2007.
  26. ^ a b c "Ex-Bangladesh PM Zia denied bail", BBC News, October 4, 2007.
  27. ^ "Bangladesh court rejects Zia appeal", Al Jazeera, April 10, 2008.
  28. ^ "Former Bangladesh PM Zia's lawyers say will lobby for her release", AFP, September 4, 2008.
  29. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/report/khaleda-zia-evicted-from-her-residence-in-dhaka/20101113.htm
  30. ^ http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-48481
  31. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187421

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Kazi Zafar Ahmed		 Prime Minister of Bangladesh
1991–1996		 Succeeded by
Muhammad Habibur Rahman
Acting
Preceded by
Latifur Rahman
Acting		 Prime Minister of Bangladesh
2001–2006		 Succeeded by
Iajuddin Ahmed
Acting
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