The death of Bangladesh’s three-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia just days after her son Tarique Rahman returned from a 17-year exile has created a groundswell of sympathy for the family, with analysts saying Zia’s legacy may tilt the country’s February election in favour of her party.
With the polls set to be the first since student-led protests toppled the government of Zia’s long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina, and the Awami League barred from contesting, analysts said Zia’s death on Tuesday could further consolidate the position of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as the dominant force in the race.
Rahman, who was acting chairman of the BNP for several years, succeeded Zia in the role formally following his mother’s death. He is contesting in two constituencies in the election, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
Advertisement
In a fractured political landscape marked by domestic unrest, new political players and strained relations with India, analysts said the election might be a watershed moment in bolstering Bangladesh’s attempt to restore political stability.
Zia, 80, was rushed to a hospital in late November due to her heart and lung ailments, and her condition subsequently deteriorated. The government has declared three days of state mourning, with her funeral held on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Hours before her death, workers from the BNP submitted her nomination papers to contest at the coming election despite her poor health, reflecting her clout in the country’s political scene as the party prepares for a leadership transition.