Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia returned to Bangladesh on Tuesday after four months of medical treatment in London, stepping back into a political stage marked by tension and uncertainty, reported by Al Jazeera News. Her arrival comes during a pivotal time, as the nation waits for the interim government to announce a date for long-delayed national elections.
Thousands of loyal supporters gathered at Dhaka’s airport, cheering and waving flags, as the 78-year-old opposition leader arrived in a wheelchair. She smiled and raised her hand in greeting, signaling her determination to rejoin the struggle for democratic revival. Zia’s party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), hailed her return as a turning point for the country.
“This is a joyous day for the nation,” said BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. “Her presence will inspire millions and help guide Bangladesh back to democratic rule.”
Zia was convicted on corruption charges in 2018 and sentenced to 17 years in prison during Sheikh Hasina’s rule. The BNP had long claimed the charges were politically motivated. In recent months, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court cleared her of wrongdoing, and she was fully acquitted earlier this year.
Since August 2024, Bangladesh has been led by an interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, following the dramatic ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising. The country now stands at a crossroads, with promises of elections by December or June 2026, depending on reform progress.
Zia’s return intensifies pressure on the government to announce a clear election timeline. As the widow of former military ruler Ziaur Rahman and the country’s first female prime minister, her presence evokes decades of political rivalry, resilience, and unresolved questions about the nation’s future.
