As Bangladesh’s former prime minister Khaleda Zia passed away, the wave of sorrow extended far beyond Dhaka, reaching Jalpaiguri, a town in India’s West Bengal nearly 434 kilometres away, where memories of her childhood remain vivid.
For the people there, her death felt like losing one of their own, reports Times of India.
Born in Jalpaiguri in 1945, Khaleda Zia spent her early life in the town, attending two local primary schools before her family relocated to what was then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
Nilanjan Dasgupta, a Jalpaiguri resident and businessman, told Times of India, “Zia’s father, Mohammad Iskandar, once worked as an agent at my father’s tea trading company, Das & Co. Khaleda was born at their Nayabasti residence in the town.”
Jalpaiguri-based historian Umesh Sharma said that Khaleda Zia’s education began in Jalpaiguri. He said, “She studied up to third grade at the Jogmaya Primary School in Nayabasti. Later, she was admitted to the Sunitibala Sadar Girls’ School in Samajpara. Around that time, most of their relatives moved to East Pakistan, and eventually her father also went there.”
Umesh Sharma further mentioned that the family migrated to East Pakistan through a formal property exchange process. In his words: “Iskandar went to East Pakistan after exchanging property with Amarendranath Chakraborty. Even today, Chakraborty’s family lives in that Nayabasti house.”
For those who still remember Khaleda Zia’s family, the emotional bond remains alive. Nilanjan Dasgupta said that during her primary school years, Siyon Mandal was a very close friend of hers. Later, Siyondi became a teacher at Shishuniketan Primary School. “I still recall the joy Siyondi felt when he heard that Khaleda Zia had become prime minister. Her death has caused us deep sorrow.”
Neighbors also said that the connection endured over the years.
Jalpaiguri resident Suhrid Mondal said, “Khaleda Zia’s relatives often came here to see her birthplace. They all stayed at my house. One of her nieces even visited just a few months ago. We often used to say if only partition had not happened! Although I never saw her in person, it feels like we have lost someone very close. Her death has brought grief not only to Bangladesh but here as well.”
Arup De, head teacher of the primary section of Sunitibala Sadar Girls’ School, said, “I have learned that Khaleda Zia was once a student here. When classes resume, we plan to hold a memorial meeting.”
