Why Fatema Begum is Zia family’s trusted confidante
Born into an extremely struggling rural family, Fatema Begum has emerged as a unique and behind-the-scenes witness to Bangladesh’s political history. For nearly 16 years, she served as the constant companion of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, rising beyond the identity of a domestic worker to become an inseparable figure of trust within the Zia family. From the dark confines of prison cells to long days of house arrest, lonely hospital nights and silent corridors of foreign trips, she stood quietly by the leader’s side in every moment of hardship, setting a rare example of loyalty. Even after Begum Zia’s death, that unbroken bond of trust continues, with Fatema now serving as the constant companion of her granddaughter, Zaima Rahman.
