Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will receive the Independence Award 2026 in recognition of her contributions at the national level.
The current government has decided to confer the award in acknowledgement of her “glorious and meritorious contributions” to the country.
Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister, rose to prominence in Bangladesh’s political landscape during a critical period of the nation’s history.
Born in Dinajpur in 1946, she entered politics following the assassination of her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence.
From a private household life, she gradually emerged as one of the most influential political figures in the country and became widely known as the “uncompromising leader” of the BNP.
Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman had two sons.
Their elder son, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, is currently serving as prime minister, while their younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died of a heart attack at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur in January 2015.
