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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.
Last year's major activities in judiciary
A new event happened in the judiciary in 2024. That year, for the first time in history, all the judges of the Appellate Division resigned simultaneously and High Court Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was directly appointed as the Chief Justice. And in 2025, the historical events of the judiciary were the death sentence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the International Crimes Tribunal, the inauguration of the Supreme Court Secretariat and the return of the caretaker government system. In addition, several important events and decisions were made in the Supreme Court.
A year of revolt, redemption and history
The year 2025 proved to be a landmark in the world of sports. Cricket and football delivered moments of high drama and historic significance throughout the year. Teams long starved of silverware finally celebrated championship glory, while fans were treated to outstanding individual performances alongside memorable team achievements. This Sports Year in Review revisits the defining sporting moments of 2025.
Uncompromising leader Khaleda Zia's legacy will live on in a million hearts
General Ershad seized power on March 24, 1982, suspending the Constitution and imposing martial law. Ever since he seized power, protests began on the streets against him. At the forefront of that movement, the two main political parties of that time, the Awami League and the BNP, along with their political alliance, were simultaneously carrying out protests. In 1986, Ershad organized a farce of national elections. The Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina fell into the trap of that farce and 28 political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the elections. But BNP boycotted the elections and remained steadfast in the street protests. “No compromise with injustice, no elections under a dictator” was the declaration made by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Since then, she has been an ‘uncompromising national leader’ to the people of the country.
Political journey of legendary leader Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia breathed her last at 6 am on Tuesday (December 30). Her passport states her birth year as 1946.
Khaleda Zia: From homemaker to country's first female prime minister
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is a unique and legendary name in the country’s politics. When BNP founder and then President Ziaur Rahman was brutally assassinated in May 1981, Khaleda Zia was just a homemaker. She had no public interest in politics, and was rarely seen at political events. But over time, that reclusive housewife became the country's three-time Prime Minister. She has covered this long and difficult path by facing various conspiracies and ups and downs at home and abroad. Amid the grief of losing her husband, she had to take charge of the party and face numerous obstacles. From there, her struggle on the road began. She united the entire nation by leading the anti-dictatorship movement for eight consecutive years. Due to her strong character and uncompromising attitude, she gained the reputation of an 'uncompromising leader'.
Village life during 1971
[In 2002, Liberation War researcher Afsan Chowdhury started a history project called ‘Bangladesh 1971’. As part of this work, a four-volume book called ‘Bangladesh 1971’ was published in 2007. In 2013, another project called ‘Gramer Ekattor’ started. Based on the information from that project, he published a book titled ‘Gramer Ekattor’ in 2019. Inspired by the author’s ‘Gramer Ekattor’, Views Bangladesh brings its Victory Day event ‘How was the village life during the 1971 war?’]
Bangladesh: The dream of lonely charioteers
Jean Eugene Paul Kay was a 29-year-old young man from a wealthy family in France, one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. At that age, he was supposed to be busy with his profession, beloved, and his own life, or be drunk in all the famous French bars. But what a strange humanity, he hijacked a Pakistan International Airlines plane, risking his life. He joined the Bengali liberation struggle. This incident created a stir in France and the whole of Europe. When the mediator spoke to Jean Kay, he demanded that 20 tons of medicine and relief materials be sent for the Bengali refugees who had taken refuge in India! At one point in the hostage incident, the security guards shot him in the chest. He was seriously injured but survived. Later, when detailed information about the matter was published, the French government sent relief medicine for the Bengali refugees.
Guerrilla girl, Pakistani child, boatman's wife and bullet-hit Pakistani woman
Bangladesh achieved its independence through a nine-month-long armed struggle. As in a people's war like the Liberation War, it was a war beyond the battlefield. Every person in the country, young and old, women and children, service holders and housewives, became a warrior. This is another war within the war, a daily battle for survival. The stories of that war have been lost and continue to be lost. This collection of memoirs by the heroic freedom fighter Kazi Ferdousi Haque Linu is an attempt to piece together these lost stories. The very stories are lost in the crowd of uncounted events.
Bruised and battered Selina Parvin in shallow pit of abandoned brick kiln
The Rayerbazar area, located on the outskirts of Dhaka city, was once quite desolate. It was a low-lying wetland along the riverbank. During the dry season, several brick kilns operated in this area, which was commonly known to the people of Dhaka as “Itkhola” (brick kilns). In newly independent Bangladesh, the bodies of the nation’s finest sons were discovered in the shallow, circular pit resembling a pond of one such abandoned brick kiln. These bodies bore marks of extreme brutality—chests and backs riddled with bullets, hands tied behind their backs, fingernails uprooted, various limbs crushed, bodies perforated by gunfire, deep bayonet wounds, and half-decomposed remains. These were the bodies of enlightened individuals—freedom-loving Bengali professors, doctors, lawyers, journalists, and professionals from other walks of life.