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Naogaon নওগাঁ
—  District  —
Location of Naogaon in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 24°54′N 88°45′E / 24.90°N 88.75°E / 24.90; 88.75Coordinates: 24°54′N 88°45′E / 24.90°N 88.75°E / 24.90; 88.75
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Rajshahi Division
Area
• Total	3,435.67 km2 (1,326.52 sq mi)
Population (1991)
• Total	2,377,314
• Density	690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Literacy rate
• Total	28.4%
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
• Summer (DST)	BDST (UTC+7)
Website	Banglapedia Article

Naogaon (Bengali: নওগাঁ Nôogã) is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rajshahi Division.

Upazilas[link]

The district is divided into the following upazilas:

• Naogaon Sadar Upazila
• Manda Upazila
• Niamatpur Upazila
• Atrai Upazila
• Raninagar Upazila
• Patnitala Upazila
• Mahadevpur Upazila
• Dhamoirhat Upazila
• Sapahar Upazila
• Porsha Upazila
• Badalgachhi Upazila

Administration[link]

Administrator of Zila Porishod: Fazley Rabbi [1]

Deputy Commissioner (DC): Ms Dr. Mosammat Nazmanara Khatun [2]

Municipalities[link]

There are three Municipalities in this district.

• Naogaon Municipality
• Nazipur Municipality
• Dhamoirhat Municipality
• Mohadevpur

History[link]

Paharpur[link]

Paharpur is a small village 5 km west of Jamalganj in the Naogaon district where the remains of the most important and the largest known monastery south of the Himalayas^{[citation needed]} have been excavated. This 7th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27 acres (110,000 m²) of land. The entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measures more than 900 ft (270 m), and is from 12 to 15 ft (3.7 to 4.6 m) in height. With an elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in each of the other three sides, for a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of South-East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java. It takes its name from a high mound, which looked like a pahar, or hillock.

A site museum built recently houses the representative collection of objects recovered from the area. The excavated findings have also been preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at Rajshahi. The antiquities of the museum include terracotta plaques, images of different gods and goddess', pottery, coin inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other minor clay objects.

Nine miles west-southwest of Paharpur is the archaeological site of Halud Vihara, which has been tentatively listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.^{[citation needed]}

Kusumba Mosque[link]

Kusumba Mosque is named after the village of Kusumba, under the Manda upazila of Naogaon district, on the west bank of the Atrai river. It lies inside a walled enclosure with a monumental gateway with standing spaces for guards. It was built by a high ranking official named Sulaiman, during the period of Afghan rule in Bengal, under one of the last Suri rulers, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah. The inscription tablet is in Arabic, with only the word 'built by' in Persian, dates the building to 966 AH (1558-59 AD), and is fixed over its eastern central entrance. Although built during Suri rule, the mosque is not influenced by the earlier Suri architecture of North India, and is well grounded in the Bengal style. The brick building, gently curved cornice, and the engaged octagonal corner towers are typical features.

The mosque, presently protected by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh, was badly damaged during the earthquake of 1897. Although the main fabric of the building is of brick, all of the exterior walls, and the interior up to the arches of the pendentives, have stone facing. The columns, platform, floor, and perforated side screens are of stone. The mosque has a rectangular plan with three bays and two aisles, three entrances on the east, and two each on the north and south sides.

The central mihrab is projected in the west. The interior west (qibla) wall has two mihrabs on the floor level opposite the central and southeastern entrances, but the one in the northwestern bay is above a raised platform ascended by a staircase on the east. The presence of such a platform in a non-imperial mosque indicates that not only royalty, but nobility and high-ranking officials were also separated from the general public during prayers.

The mihrabs have elaborate stone carving. They have cusped arches crowned with kalasa (water pot) motifs, supported on intricately carved stone pillars which have projections and tasselled decorations hanging from chains. Bunches of grapes and vines curve in an almost serpentine manner on the mihrab frames, and kalasas, tendrils, and rosettes are reduced to dots. The platform edge has grape vine decoration, and there are rosettes on the spandrels of the arches supporting the platform, as well as on the mihrab wall.

The stone used in the exterior facing is of coarse quality and is carved in shallow relief. Mouldings are the most prominent decorative feature on the outside. They divide the walls into upper and lower sections, run all along the curved cornice, around the corner towers, and frame the rectangular panels in the east, south, and north walls. The spandrels of the central entrance arch are filled with small kalasa and rosette motifs. The north and south sides have screened windows.^[1]

Patisar[link]

Patisar village is associated with Rabindranath Tagore. It is situated on the banks of the Nagor, 12 kilometres south-east of the Atrai railway station and 26 kilometres from the district town. The headquarters of the Tagore family's zamindari in Kaligram Pargana was located at Patisar. Dwarkanath Tagore, the grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore, purchased this zamindari in 1830. Rabindranath Tagore first came to Patisar in January 1891.

The architectural design of the two-storied Kuthibari of Patisar is similar to that of Shilaidaha-Shahjadpur. The buildings, adjacent to the main mansion, are now reduced to ruins. A pond, named Rabindrasarobar, is now a silted up marsh. During his stay at Patisar, Tagore composed various poems, stories, novels, essays and the verse-play Biday Abhishap. He also established many primary schools, a school named Rathindranath High School, charitable dispensaries, and Patisar Krishi Bank (1905). He introduced tractors in Patisar and formed co-operative societies for the development of agriculture, handloom, and pottery.

In 1921, when the zamindari was divided, Patisar was included in Tagore's share. When the poet was awarded the Nobel Prize, the tenants of Patisar gave him an address of honour (1913). On the request of his tenants, Tagore visited Patisar in 1937 for the last time on the occasion of Punya. Every year many devotees of Tagore come from home and abroad to visit Patisar. On the occasions of Tagore's birth and death anniversaries, discussion meetings and cultural functions are held at Patisar.

Dubalhati[link]

Dubalhati is an ancient site in the south-western part of the district. The road to Dubalhati passes through the wide body of water known as “Digholi beel” (a beel is a large shallow lake or marsh). There is a large well in the center of the road for providing travellers with water. Today the road is becoming a recreational place for the town dwellers because of its natural beauty.^{[citation needed]}

The most notable feature of Dubalhati is the "Raja's Mansion" (Jomidar Bari or Rajbari). The house has two parts; the main part, Darbar Hall, is residential and also used for holding seminars, while the other part, Natto Shalla, is for prayers. The rajbari is a three-story building standing on wide and long masonry slender spiral columns. There are also four big dhighi around the site.

The rajbari was first built by Raja Horandro Ray Choudhory during the Pala Dynasty (781–1124). About 53 rajas have held the title, beginning with Jogotram, and ending with Haranath Ray Bahadur II in 1971. Raja Horonath Ray Bahadur I was notable for his construction of schools in Rajshahi and Naogaon district, including Natto Shala, Baganbari, Dubalhati High school, Naogaon K.D. School. He also contributed sums of money to the Rajshahi Government College. He founded Dubalhati Raja Horonuth High School, only the second high school in the Rajshahi Division, in 1864. He also had many wells and dhighis (small lakes) dug for providing drinking and irrigation water, and provided food to the populace during the famine of 1874.

Economy[link]

This section requires expansion.

Today Naogaon District is considered the bread basket of Bangladesh. It is the central part of Borendra Region, with an area of about 3,435.67 square kilometres (1,326.52 sq mi), about 80% of which is under cultivation. The soil of the area is a fertile inorganic clay called dhoyass.

The total population of the area is about 25 lac, and most of the people of the district are farmers. The literacy rate is 44.39%. Crops grown in the district include paddy, jute, wheat, maize, sugar cane, potatoes, pulses, oil seeds, brinjal, onions, and garlic. The total production of paddy and what in 2009-2010 was 13,58,432 metric tons, including a surplus of 8,26,835 metric tons. Today it is the top listed district in the side of rice production and has the highest number of rice processing mills of any district.^[2]

Religion[link]

The district of Naogaon consists 3864 mosques, 1018 temples, 96 churches and 51 Buddhist churches. Kusumba mosque is the famous mosque in this district.

Notable residents[link]

• James (Nagar Baul) (singer)
• Politician Awami activist and Mercantile Bank owner Abdul Jolil

Famous places of Naogaon[link]

This section requires expansion.

• Shampur Bihar, PaharPur, Badalgacchi
• Dubalhati Rajbari
• Kusumba Masjid, Manda
• Patishar (Rabindranath Tagor's KuthiBari)
• AltaDighi Dhamoirhat
• Mohadevpur Razbari
• Dibor Dighi-Patnitola
• Gahon pirbabar Mazar-Patnitola
• Kancon-Hazarat Zahor Uddin Cistia Babar Mazar-Patnitola
• Katabari Mazar Patnitola
• Dudulhati ROyal Palace, Sadar
• Balihar Royal Palace, Sadar
• Vimer Panti, Dhamuirhat
• Jogoddol Bihara, Dhamoirhat
• Mahisontos, Dhamoirhat
• Halud Bihar, Badalgachi

Hats and bazaars[link]

• Modhail Bazar,Akborpur ,potnitala ,naogoan

Kola Hut

• Santahar bazar
• Dubalati Bazar
• Satihat
• Chaubaria Hat
• Chawkgaurihat
• Matajihat
• Mohadebpurhat
• Dhamoir Hat
• Kholishakuri Hat
• Lakhaijani Hat
• Hapania Hat
• Entetala Hat
• Kritipurhat
• Abadpukur Hat
• Nazipur Natunhat
• Nazipur Puraton Bazar Hat
• Bandaikhara Bazar
• Katkhoir Hat
• Ahashangonj Hat
• Bedhgari Hat
• Vobanipur Hat
• Paharpur Hat
• Sahapur Hat (Shapurer Hat)
• Balihar bazar

Fairs[link]

• Thakur Mandar Mela
• Dubalhati Poush Parbon Mela
• Kalitala Rath Mela
• HinduBaga Mela
• Gudishahar Mela
• Shibpur Lakshmi Mela
• Kashipur Mela

Educational institutes[link]

• Chakuli high School,Manda,Naogoan.
• Modhail BL high School,Akborpur ,Potnital,Naogoan
• Kola Bijlee High School, Badal Gachi, Naogaon
• Al-Helal Islami Academy School, Sapahar.
• Dubalhati Govt. Primary School, dubalhati, Naogaon
• Dubalhati Hafezia and Forkanea Madrasha, Dubalhati, Naogaon
• Chalkenayet Model Government Primary School
• Naogaon Government Girls High School, Naogaon
• Naogaon Government College, Naogaon.
• Naogaon B. M.C. Government Mohila College, Naogaon
• Naogaon Polytechnic Institute, Dubalhati Road, Naogaon
• Uttarbongo Polytechnic Institute,Dubalhati, Naogaon.
• Dynamic Polytechnic Institute,Chak-Deb, Naogaon.
• Matrix Institute of Health Technology[Paramedical college], Naogaon.
• Momen Shana College, Manda, Naogaon
• Naogaon K.D. Government High School-1891
• Naogaon Zilla School
• Kirtipur High School-1921
• Tilakpur Government Primary School, Tilakpur, Naogaon
• Tilakpur Moslim High School, Tilakpur, Naogaon
• Naogaon Janakallan Model High School
• Gobindapur High School
• Bangal Para Government Primary School
• Hapania High School
• Ratowal Bishwo Kabi Rabindranath Tagore Dimukhi High School
• Paharpur G. M. High School, Established in 1936
• Paharpur Government Primary School
• Best Link Future Development Foundation (Computer Education), Manda
• Jahangirpur Model High School, Mohadavpur
• Saraswatipur High School
• Rasulpur High School
• Kushadanga High School
• Pirojpur High School
• Bilkorilla B.M. High School
• Katkhoir High School
• Pakuria High School
• P.M Girls High School
• Shaluka High School
• M.P, J.N.V. School, a polytechnic college
• Primary Teacher's Training Institute
• Bandaikhara High School
• Katkhoir High School
• Al-Helal Islami Academy School, Sapahar
• Sapahar Pilot High School
• Sapahar KG School
• Sapahar Govt. Degree College
• Sapahar Govt. Model Primary School
• Sapahar Govt. Girls School
• Teghoria High School, Sapahar
• Potishor Rothindra Nath Institute,Potishor, Atrai.
• Got Gari Shahid Mamun High School & College
• Raigaon High School
• Raigaon College
• Paschim Naogaon High School,Bus Terminal, Naogaon
• Bolihar Dwi-Mukhi High School,Bolihar,Naogaon
• Bolihar College,Bolihar,Naogaon

Newspapers and weekly periodicals[link]

• Rupantor[Monthly]
• Nabajug
• Nabadiganta
• Saptahik Bangabani
• Bakachand
• Nababarta
• Banglar Kantha
• Little Magazine
• Sangkalon
• Tolpar
• Protichhabi
• Kalbela
• Eisomoy
• Calantika
• Anjali Loho Mor

See also[link]

• Somapura Mahavihara

References[link]

3. Mizanur Rahman Sohag, Dhaka Residential Model College, Sapahar, Naogaon.

External links[link]

• http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/322

v t e Divisions and districts of Bangladesh Barisal Division Barguna Barisal Bhola Jhalokati Patuakhali Pirojpur Chittagong Division Bandarban Brahmanbaria Chandpur Chittagong Comilla Cox's Bazar Feni Khagrachari Lakshmipur Noakhali Rangamati Dhaka Division Dhaka Faridpur Gazipur Gopalganj Jamalpur Kishoreganj Madaripur Manikgonj Munshiganj Mymensingh Narayanganj Narsingdi Netrokona Rajbari Shariatpur Sherpur Tangail Khulna Division Bagerhat Chuadanga Jessore Jhenaidah Khulna Kushtia Magura Meherpur Narail Satkhira Rajshahi Division Bogra Joypurhat Naogaon Natore Nawabganj Pabna Rajshahi Sirajganj Rangpur Division Dinajpur Gaibandha Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Panchagarh Rangpur Thakurgaon Sylhet Division Habiganj Maulvibazar Sunamganj Sylhet

[Kamruzzaman, Dubalhati, Naogaon]

Khaleda Zia খালেদা জিয়া
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
In office 10 October 2001 – 29 October 2006
President	Shahabuddin Ahmed Badruddoza Chowdhury Muhammad Jamiruddin Sarkar (Acting) Iajuddin Ahmed
Preceded by	Latifur Rahman (Acting)
Succeeded by	Iajuddin Ahmed (Acting)
In office 20 March 1991 – 30 March 1996
President	Shahabuddin Ahmed (Acting) Abdur Rahman Biswas
Preceded by	Kazi Zafar Ahmed
Succeeded by	Muhammad Habibur Rahman (Acting)
Personal details
Born	(1944-08-15) 15 August 1944 (age 67) Birbhum, British Raj (now India)
Political party	Nationalist Party (1979–present) Four Party Alliance (2001–present)
Spouse(s)	Ziaur Rahman (1960–1981)
Children	Tarique Rahman (b. 1967) Arafat Rahman
Religion	Islam

Begum Khaleda Zia (Bengali: খালেদা জিয়া) is the former First Lady of Bangladesh (1977–1981), and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history and second in the Muslim world (only after Ms Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan in 1988–1990) to head a democratic government as prime minister. She served again from 2001 until 2006. She is the widow of the President and former army chief Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981, and leads his old party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Since the country's independence in 1971, Zia has spent around ten years ruling the country (being the longest-serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh). She has been elected to five separate parliamentary constituencies in the general elections of 1991, 1996 and 2001.

Forbes magazine ranked Mrs Zia at number 29 in 2005^[1] and number 33 in 2006^[2] in its list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.

Personal life[link]

Khaleda Zia (Putul) was born on 15 August 1944 to Iskandar Majumder and Taiyaba Majumder in Birbhum district of West Bengal province, India and later migrated with her family to Dinajpur District. Khaleda Zia is the youngest in a family of four. She has two brothers, Major (Retd.) Sayeed Iskandar, a retired military official, and Shamim Iskander, an engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and two elder sisters, late Khurshid Jahan Hoq (Chocolate Aapa), former Women's Welfare Minister, and another sister who is deceased. The family originally hails from Fulgazi Upazila of Feni District, Bangladesh. She studied in Dinajpur Government Girls High School. In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman. She is the current leader of the opposition party. She is also recognized as one of the stylish politicians.

First Lady[link]

Former president Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad made her husband Major General Ziaur Rahman Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army after Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who subsequently assumed power as Chief Martial Law Administrator following a series of military coups on and following National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Ferdous

Political career[link]

Until the assassination of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, in an abortive military coup in Chittagong on 30 May 1981, Khaleda Zia had taken little interest in either politics or public life. Even when her husband assumed power after the political changes in 1975, she remained a shy and withdrawn housewife spending most of her time raising her two sons, Tarique Rahman (Pino) and Arafat Rahman (Coco).

After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, Vice-President Justice Abdus Sattar took over as the Acting President and also as Chairman of the BNP. Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Hossain Mohammad Ershad overthrew Justice Sattar on March 24, 1982.

In March 1983, Justice Sattar appointed Khaleda Zia as vice-chairman of the BNP. In February 1984, she became the chairperson as Justice Sattar retired from politics. On August 10, 1984 the party elected her the chairperson.

Under the leadership of Begum Zia, the BNP formed a seven-party alliance in 1983 and launched a relentless struggle against the autocratic regime of Lieutenant General Ershad. During the nine-year-long struggle against Ershad, Begum Zia did not compromise with his autocratic and illegitimate government. For her strict adherence to the principles, the government restricted her movements by using prohibitive laws. She was detained seven times in eight years. But undaunted, Begum Zia continued to provide leadership in the movement for ousting Ershad. Like Zia before him, Ershad attempted to give his rule a civilian and democratic face, but Khaleda Zia boycotted all elections during his rule. Khaleda was detained seven times during almost nine years of autocratic rule under President Ershad before his resignation on 6 December 1990.

In the face of a mass upsurge spearheaded by alliances led by Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina, President Ershad at last handed over power to a neutral caretaker government on 6 December 1990. In the parliamentary elections held under this government on 27 February 1991, the BNP won a majority on its own. Begum Zia contested from five constituencies in three consecutive parliamentary elections and won in all seats. This is a unique feat in the history of elections in the country.^[3]

Prime minister[link]

First term[link]

Zia with the then U.S. president Bill Clinton

Zia with the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva.

A neutral caretaker government oversaw elections on February 27, 1991 that were broadly considered to be free, fair and truly democratic. The BNP won 140 seats, 11 short of a majority. However, it was the only party capable of forming a government, and Khaleda Zia was sworn in as the country's first female prime minister on 20 March with the support of a majority of the deputies. Acting president Shahabuddin Ahmed granted her nearly all of the powers that were vested in the president at the time, effectively returning Bangladesh to a parliamentary system. With a unanimous vote cutting across all political lines, the BNP-led government formally restored the parliamentary system through the 12th amendment to the Constitution in 1991.

While in power, Begum Zia's government made considerable progress in the education sector, including introduction of free and compulsory primary education, tuition-free education for girls up to class ten, stipend for female students and the Food for Education program. It also goes to the credit of her government that during this period, the tree plantation had become a nationwide social movement. Further, it was in this period that the construction of the Jamuna Bridge was started. Khaleda Zia played a commendable role in revitalizing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It also increased the age limit for entry into the civil service from 27 years to 30 years and made highest budgetary allocation in the education sector.

Second term[link]

The BNP had a landslide victory on February 15, 1996 general election to the sixth Jatiya Sangshad. The election was, however, boycotted by all other major parties who were demanding that the elections be held under a neutral caretaker government, following allegations of rigging in a by-election held in 1994. Turnout was estimated at around 25%, though the government at the time claimed it to be much higher. The short-lived parliament hastily introduced the Caretaker Government through 13th amendment to the Constitution, and then was dissolved to pave the way for the parliamentary elections. In the June 12, 1996 polls, BNP lost to Sheikh Hasina's Awami League but emerged as the largest opposition party in the country's parliamentary history with 116 seats.

Third term[link]

Aiming to return to power, the BNP formed a four-party alliance on January 6, 1999 with its former political foe the Jatiya Party, and the Islamic party of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and the Islami Oikya Jot and launched several agitation programmes against the ruling Awami League. Khaleda Zia, like Ziaur Rahman has been criticized much for making alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, the party which opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and formed Razakar, Al-Badar and Al-Shams team to help West Pakistan to kill thousands of innocent people including the intellectuals of Bangladesh. Around three million people were killed by the West Pakistan Army with the help of Razakars (collaborators), Al-Badars and Al-Shams in 1971 within nine months of war.^[4]

The four-party alliance then participated in the October 1, 2001 general elections and won the election with a two-third majority of seats in parliament and 46% of the vote (compared to the principal opposition party's 40%) and Khaleda Zia was once again sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Khaleda Zia's third term was plagued by rising religious militancy, continuing its spiralling of corruption (including successive damning reports by Transparency International), a rise in alleged attacks on minority groups (such as Hindus and Ahmadiyas as documented by the United States Department of State and Amnesty International) and an increasingly explosive political environment^[5]. A particularly controversial piece of legislation introduced by the government was the banning of Ahmadiya publications in January 2004, which attracted considerable concern from international observers.

End of term[link]

On October 27, 2006, Zia's term in office ended. The following day rioting broke out on the streets of central Dhaka following uncertainty over who would succeed her as Chief Advisor (Chief of Caretaker Government of Bangladesh). On the same day evening, a presidential statement declared that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Khondokar Mahmud Hasan (who had been due to take over as Chief Advisor) would not be assuming the role due to ill health. [2] Subsequently, president Iajuddin Ahmed, assumed power as Chief Advisor on October 29, 2006.

After 2006[link]

After tremendous domestic and international pressure and amid Awami League claims of partisanship, President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh but remained as the President of Bangladesh. Elections scheduled for January 22 were postponed. The new caretaker government led by former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, in its fight against corruption, has targeted many of Ms Zia's BNP ministers.

Ms Zia's eldest son, Tareque Rahman (Pino), was also arrested in March 2007 for corruption. It was later reported that, beginning on April 9, the government barred other politicians from visiting Ms Zia's residence due to the state of emergency, imposed in January, which prohibits political activity.^[6] Youngest son of Ms Zia, Arafat Rahman (Coco), was arrested on April 16.^[7]

Since United News Bangladesh (UNB) carried unverified reports of Arafat's arrest on April 16, it cited unnamed 'family sources' as claiming Ms Zia was considering exile. UNB said speculation was mounting Ms Zia would relocate to Saudi Arabia. It also noted her brother, Major (Retd.) Sayeed Iskandar was attempting to negotiate her exit from Bangladesh with authorities from the interim administration. The New Nation newspaper carried a report on April 17 stating Khaleda had in fact agreed to go into exile in return for the release of her youngest son.^[8] The report said the Saudi government had expressed its willingness to accept Khaleda and her family members as royal guests. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's The Daily Star quoted an unnamed source who claimed Zia's decision to leave the nation meant authorities would now force Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, Zia's bitter rival who was then in the United States, to also embrace exile.^[9] All these reports about exile and government pressure on Ms Zia were denied by the government.

On April 19, Khondker Babul Chowdhury, a member of the BNP national executive committee, filed the appeal urging the court to order the government not to send Khaleda abroad against her wish and challenging the reported confinement of Khaleda to her house. On April 22 the High Court issued a rule on the government to explain within five days why the court will not direct the government to produce Khaleda Zia before the court to prove that she is not confined to her house. On April 25, in what was viewed as a reversal, the government said that Zia's movement was not restricted and that she had not been under any pressure to leave the country; it also dropped its ban on Hasina's return.^[10]

On May 7, the government was ordered by the High Court to explain restrictions on Ms Zia that were said to remain in place.^[11]

On July 17, the Anti Corruption Commission Bangladesh (ACC) sent notices to both MS Zia and Ms Hasina, requesting that details of their assets be submitted to the commission within one week.^[12]

Zia was asked to appear in court on September 27, 2007 in connection with a case for not submitting service returns for Daily Dinkal Publications Limited for years.^[13]

On September 2, 2007, a case was filed against Ms Zia by the interim government for corruption regarding the awarding of contracts to Global Agro Trade Company in 2003,^[14] and on September 3 she was arrested.^[15] Her youngest son Arafat Rahman (Coco) along with 11 others was also detained after police recorded a corruption case against them involving irregularities at Chittagong port. A bribery case was also filed against current Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina (rival of Khaleda), detained in a special jail.^[16] On the same day, Ms Zia expelled party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Joint Secretary General Whip Ashraf Hossain for breaching party discipline.^[17] On September 30, Zia was granted bail by the High Court, which also ruled that the trial should be stopped^[18][19] on the grounds that the emergency laws could not be applied to her actions before they were imposed in January 2007.^[19] The government appealed this decision, however, and on October 4, 2007 the Supreme Court ruled that she should not be granted bail and that the trial should continue.^[18][19]

After Khaleda Zia was detained, party standing committee members chose former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman and former Water Resources minister Major (Rtd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed to lead the BNP for the time being; Zia's supporters did not recognize this. Bangladesh Election Commission subsequently invited Hafizuddin's faction, rather than Zia's, to participate in talks, effectively recognizing the former as the legitimate BNP. Zia challenged this in court, but her appeal was rejected on April 10, 2008.^[20]

Ms Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman (Coco) was released in August 2008, and her eldest son Tareque Rahman (Pino) was released on bail on September 3, 2008. Ms Zia had been granted bail on two of her four cases by this point, but remained in jail because bail had not been granted for the other two. Her lawyers said on September 4 that they would also seek bail for the other two cases.^[21]

Evicted from home of Cantonment[link]

Under the rule of Awami League Government, on 13 November 2010 she was forced to leave her 37 years old, palatial Dhaka Cantonment residence upon an order from High Court Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court. The house was originally the residence of the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS) of Bangladesh Army used by then DCS Major General Ziaur Rahman. He kept the same residence even after he had become the President of Bangladesh. The post of DCS of Bangladesh Army was abolished in his tenure. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman this house was leased-for-life to his widow Khaleda Zia at only ৳101 by then Acting President Justice Abdus Sattar on 12 June 1981, by then Former Army Chief of Bangladesh and Chief Martial Law Administrator Lieutenant General Hussain Mohammad Ershad in 15 June 1982 which according to Bangladesh Army law is illegal. After Leaving the house, she moved to the house at Gulshan of her brother Sayeed Iskandar.^[22]

Awards and honors[link]

On 24 May 2011, New Jersey State Senate Honored Begum Khaleda Zia as Fighter of Democracy. Both treasury bench and opposition members of New Jersey State Senate unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Begum Zia and all the senators gave her a standing ovation. New Jersey State Senate accorded such honor to any foreign personality for the first time.^[23][24]

See also[link]

• Ziaur Rahman
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party
• Bangladeshi political families

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bangladesh Nationalist Party website
• Biography from Bangladesh Mission, United Nations
• CV of Khaleda Zia
• Works by or about Khaleda Zia in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Khaleda Zia collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Interview, Time, 3 April 2006
• Tearful Khaleda reaches Gulshan office http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=178882&cid=2
• I am evicted http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=162520
• খালেদা জিয়ার বাড়ী নিয়ে লড়াইয়ের ১০ বছর http://www.amadershomoy.com/content/2010/11/14/news0632.htm

v t e Prime Ministers of Bangladesh (List) Tajuddin Ahmad · Sheikh Mujibur Rahman · Muhammad Mansur Ali · Shah Azizur Rahman · Ataur Rahman Khan · Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury · Moudud Ahmed · Kazi Zafar Ahmed · Khaleda Zia · Muhammad Habibur Rahman · Sheikh Hasina · Latifur Rahman · Khaleda Zia · Iajuddin Ahmed · Fazlul Haquei · Fakhruddin Ahmedi · Sheikh Hasina (i) interim

Md. Mydul Islam Mijan