Khaleda Zia Biography: Spouse, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Nationality

Khaleda Zia, a trailblazing Bangladeshi politician, is celebrated as the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, serving from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.

As the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since 1984, she has been a pivotal figure in the country’s political landscape, leading the charge for democracy against authoritarian regimes.

Profile

• Full Name: Khaleda Khanam Putul Zia
• Stage Name: Begum Khaleda Zia
• Born: August 15, 1945
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: Jalpaiguri, Bengal Presidency, British India
• Nationality: Bangladeshi
• Occupation: Politician, Former Prime Minister, Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
• Religion: Islam
• Parents: Iskandar Ali Majumder, Taiyaba Majumder
• Siblings: Sayeed Iskander ,Khurshid Jahan
• Spouse: Ziaur Rahman (married 1960–1981)
• Children: Tarique Rahman, Arafat Rahman Koko
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $20,000,000

Early Life & Education

Khaleda Zia was born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, then part of the undivided Dinajpur District in British India (now in West Bengal, India), with her ancestral home in Fulgazi, Feni District, Bangladesh.

The third of five children, she was raised in a Bengali Muslim family by her father, Iskandar Ali Majumder, a tea businessman, and her mother, Taiyaba Majumder.

After the 1947 partition of India, her family relocated to Dinajpur town, Bangladesh. Growing up in a modest household, Khaleda was exposed to the challenges of a newly independent nation. A simple upbringing, with a strong emphasis on family values, characterized her early years.

In 1960, at the age of 15, she married Ziaur Rahman, a captain in the Pakistan Army, which shifted her life onto a path intertwined with the military and political spheres.

During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, she endured house arrest by the Pakistani army while her husband fought for independence, shaping her resilience and eventual political resolve.

Khaleda Zia describes herself as “self-educated,” with no record of completing high school or higher education.

She began her schooling at Dinajpur Missionary School and later attended Dinajpur Girls’ School, where she completed her matriculation in 1960.

She continued her studies at Surendranath College in Dinajpur until 1965 when she moved to West Pakistan to join her husband.

Career

Khaleda Zia’s political career began after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, in 1981.

Initially uninterested in politics, she joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), founded by her husband in 1978, and became its vice-chairperson in 1983.

Elected chairperson in 1984, she led the BNP through a turbulent period, opposing General Hussain Mohammad Ershad’s military regime.

Detained seven times over nine years, she spearheaded a seven-party alliance that led to Ershad’s resignation in 1990, thereby restoring democracy.

In 1991, Khaleda became Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister after the BNP won 140 seats in a free election, serving until 1996.

Her first term focused on education reforms, introducing free and compulsory primary education, free schooling for girls up to grade 10, and a 60% increase in the education budget in 1994, raising SSC pass rates from 31.73% to 73.2%. She also privatized industries and introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Bank Company Act (1991).

Khaleda briefly served as Prime Minister in 1996 but resigned after a month due to opposition boycotts.

She returned to power in 2001–2006, reducing poverty by 9%, increasing allowances for widows and the elderly, and banning the use of harmful polythene bags.

Her government started the construction of the Jamuna Bridge and revitalized SAARC. However, her tenure faced criticism for alleged election rigging and corruption.

In 2007, an army-backed government arrested her on graft charges, and in 2018, she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, receiving a 17-year sentence, which her supporters claim was politically motivated.

Released in 2020 for medical treatment and acquitted in 2024 after a mass uprising, Khaleda remains a key BNP leader, advocating for democracy.

Social Media

• Facebook: Khaleda Zia

Personal Life

At 79, Khaleda Zia remains a widowed mother of two sons, Tarique Rahman, the acting BNP chairman living in London, and Arafat Rahman Koko, who died of a heart attack in 2015.

Standing at 5 feet 7 inches with salt-and-pepper hair and dark brown eyes, she has faced health challenges, including arthritis and heart issues, requiring treatment in Dhaka and abroad.

Based in Dhaka, she moved to her son Tarique’s residence after her release from prison in 2024. Her sister, Khurshid Jahan (d. 2006), and brother, Sayeed Iskander (d. 2012), were also politically active.

Known for her methodical nature and generosity, Khaleda enjoys helping those in distress, as noted in her AstroSage profile.

Despite controversies, including a 2016 case over her birthdate (which was acquitted in 2024), she remains a symbol of resilience, balancing her family ties with her political legacy.

Net Worth

Khaleda Zia’s net worth is estimated to be $20,000,000, primarily derived from her family’s business background and her political career.

Her income sources are not detailed, but allegations of corruption, including the Zia Orphanage Trust case, suggest wealth accumulation, though she denies wrongdoing.

Exact assets, such as properties or vehicles, are unconfirmed; however, her lifestyle reflects her status as a prominent political figure.