The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to commemorate the 82nd birth anniversary of its former Chairperson and the nation’s three-time Prime Minister, the late Begum Khaleda Zia, with a series of nationwide programs scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

According to an official press release from the party, these observances will include special doa and milad mahfils conducted at mosques and BNP offices across the country.

In the capital, the central event is slated to commence at 11 am at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters, where senior leadership will gather to pay tribute to her legacy.

Widely revered as an unwavering champion of democracy in Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia held the mantle of BNP Chairperson from 1984 until her passing.

She holds the historic distinction of being the first woman to serve as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and only the second female head of government in the Muslim world.

Born on August 15, 1945, in the Dinajpur district to parents Iskandar Majumder and Taiyaba Majumder, she maintained ancestral roots in Feni.

Her formative years were spent as a student at Dinajpur Government Girls High School, followed by studies at Surendranath College.

In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman, then a captain in the military who would later emerge as a national hero of the Liberation War, the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, and eventually the President of the nation.

During her tenure as First Lady, Begum Zia frequently accompanied her husband on the international stage, engaging with prominent global figures such as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.

Following the tragic assassination of President Zia during an attempted military coup in 1981, Begum Zia entered the political arena by enrolling as a general member of the BNP on January 2, 1982.

Her rise within the party was swift; she was named Vice-Chairman in March 1983 and subsequently elected Chairperson, a leadership role she maintained with steadfast dedication until her death on December 30, 2025.