Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency,: The emergence of the Zia family in Bangladeshi politics unfolded through a series of dramatic events. It began with the rise of Ziaur Rahman's charismatic leadership in addressing the post-1975 crisis. In particular, he was able to inspire the people of the country with a vision of building a prosperous Bangladesh based on Bangladeshi nationalism, uniting all communities regardless of religion or caste under the banner of a national aspiration, focusing on national reconstruction and achieving economic, social, and cultural stability.
Ziaur Rahman's leadership was characterized by courage and transformative leadership, similar to the concept described by James Burns, which established him as a charismatic leader. Although he had the opportunity to lead the country forward, his assassination deprived our nation of that leadership. Bangladesh once again fell into a political leadership crisis.
To address the leadership crisis in Bangladeshi politics at that time, Begum Khaleda Zia, shedding her image as a housewife, was compelled to enter politics. At a critical juncture when it seemed that the BNP's political journey was ending before it had even begun, Khaleda Zia took the reins of the party.