Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman PM, dies; Jaishankar at funeral today, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson, died at 80 after a prolonged illness.
• S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, will attend the funeral in Dhaka.
• Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991-1996 and 2001-2006.
• Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor, announced three days of state mourning.
• Sheikh Hasina acknowledged Zia's significant role in Bangladesh's political history.
• Tarique Rahman, Zia's son and BNP acting chairman, returned from exile on December 25.

Detailed Insights:

• Khaleda Zia played a crucial role in restoring democracy in Bangladesh after military rule.
• Her political career included periods of both cooperation and conflict with India, particularly concerning anti-India terrorist groups operating from Bangladesh during her second term.
• Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda's husband, was President of Bangladesh after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• In 1990, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina joined forces to oust General Husain Muhammad Ershad.
• Khaleda Zia's decision to boycott the 2013 elections was viewed as a political misstep, leading to her party's decline.
• In 2018, she was imprisoned on corruption charges and later conditionally released in 2020, remaining confined to her home.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): A major political party in Bangladesh, founded by Ziaur Rahman.
• Caretaker Government: A non-partisan interim government that oversees elections in Bangladesh.