On International Women's Day, there is a lot of discussion about 'women's emancipation.' On the other hand, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, a victim of the Awami League government's oppression, is practically imprisoned and not receiving proper medical treatment. This leader of Bangladesh's democratic movement has been deprived of her political rights for a decade.

When the people of the country were gasping under the military rule of the autocrat Ershad, Begum Khaleda Zia took the helm of a major political party in this conservative male-dominated society. Recognized as an uncompromising leader for her relentless struggle against the autocrat over nine years, which led to her imprisonment twice, she was embraced by the people for her steadfast character.

This embrace was so strong that under her charismatic leadership, the BNP managed to form the government by securing a majority, defeating a political party that had been in existence for nearly fifty years.

Begum Khaleda Zia has always been an inspiration to a key figure in the country's independence struggle and a valiant freedom fighter the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. She initiated the democratic movement in the country as the Chairperson of BNP and formed a seven-party alliance under her leadership in 1983.

At the same time, a movement against Ershad's military rule began. Begum Khaleda Zia initially led the BNP into an anti-Ershad movement through a seven-party alliance starting from September 1983. The seven-party alliance under her leadership and another fifteen-party alliance led by the Awami League simultaneously started a movement. This movement continued in five phases until 1986.

However, on the night of March 21, 1986, when Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina decided to participate in the elections under Ershad, it created obstacles in the unified movement. The fifteen-party alliance broke down into eight parties and five parties, with the eight parties choosing to participate in the elections. Afterward, under Begum Zia's leadership, the seven parties and five-party alliance continued the movement and rejected the elections. From 1987, Khaleda Zia began a one-point 'oust Ershad' movement, which eventually led to the dissolution of the parliament by Ershad."

The unified movement began anew. Finally, after eight years of continuous, tireless, and uncompromising struggle, on February 27, 1991, the parliamentary elections were held, and the BNP achieved a majority to elect Begum Khaleda Zia as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In that election, Khaleda Zia won in all five constituencies in which she contested.

Facing harsh realities, Begum Khaleda Zia, while in power, did not just lead a country but took numerous steps for women's freedom. Among many initiatives taken for women by Begum Khaleda Zia, one of the most significant was the introduction of free education for girls, aimed at ensuring that girls receive at least a minimum level of secondary education. She initiated a scholarship programme for this purpose. Under her initiative, the 'Food for Education' programme was launched to increase the interest of girls from low-income families in primary education.

During her tenure, laws to combat rape and acid violence were enacted in Bangladesh. At the same time, she formulated anti-dowry laws to establish the dignity of women in society. Through the establishment of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, she ensured the participation of all in women's education and increased the number of female students by imposing quotas for female teachers in primary schools.

Under the initiative of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Special Tribunals were established to adjudicate cases of women and child abuse, setting specific time frames for investigations to expedite justice. Moreover, during her tenure, bills were passed for crimes, stipulating imprisonment for 7 or 14 years, or the maximum penalty of the death sentence, depending on the offense.

To protect women's rights and fully utilize their capabilities, Begum Khaleda Zia established the National Forum for Women. To leverage the power of women in maintaining law and order, the BNP chairperson reintroduced the inclusion of women in the police force, a step initially taken by Ziaur Rahman.

For women and girls in impoverished urban and rural areas, she contributed to enhancing their financial independence by initiating microloan programmes through the creation of a special fund.

In the pursuit of establishing women's empowerment, health care, development, and education, Khaleda Zia, along with Mrs. Lone, commenced operations of international educational institutions like the Asian University for Women. For this university, Begum Khaleda Zia arranged funding and donated 100 acres of land in Chittagong.

Through her initiatives, organizations like Wister were supported, providing training and practical activities in computer usage, and offering full support to women's organizations, thereby creating employment opportunities for numerous women.