1971, Bangladesh in the liberation struggle. Begum Khaleda Zia was arrested on July 2 from a relative's house in Siddheshwari of the capital along with her two infant sons. Who is an important prisoner to the Pakistani rulers in 1971 – whose husband Ziaur Rahman revolted on March 26 and fought in the freedom struggle. Members of the invasion force are then desperate to find the family and relatives of the Z-Force captain. Victims of outrage, some were imprisoned, some were injured in brutality.
Khaleda Zia came to Dhaka from Chittagong on May 16, leaving her husband in the struggle. Two children, Tariq Rahman-Arafat Rahman and the wife of Colonel Mahfuz (later Zia's killer) came to Narayanganj in the evening. From there, her elder sister late Khurshid Jahan Haque and sister's husband Mozammel Haque brought them to their residence in Khilgaon, Dhaka in a jeep. This news also spread in intelligence activities in just 10 days.
On May 26, sister-in-law Mozammel Haque came to know that the Pakistani army had known Khaleda Zia's location. Since then, the hiding began. From this house to that house, some are unable to give place to 'Begum' for fear of persecution. Dulabhai Mozammel Haque shifted Khaleda Zia and her two sons Pino and Coco to Shankar on 28 May, from there on 3 June. After that, Ziyapatni started staying at Siddheshwari residence of Deputy Director of Geological Survey Department SK Abdullah from an unknown address. Begum Zia stayed in that house until she was arrested by the Pakistani forces in the early hours of July 2.
How Khaleda Zia was arrested
Khaleda Zia lived inside SK Abdullah's Siddheshwari house. He knew that Pakistani army intelligence was looking for him. On July 2, 1971, Begum Khaleda Zia was arrested from SK Abdullah's house in Siddheshwari. He always stayed inside and never came out. On the day she was arrested, Khaleda Zia went out to see the garden of the house early in the morning. This is how journalist Mahfuz Ullah wrote about the arrest of Ziaur Rahman's wife.
The book titled 'Begum Khaleda Zia: Her Life, Her Story' written by the late Mahfuz Ullah says, 'After the arrest, Khaleda Zia and her two children were kept in a room in the old parliament building. After that they were taken to a house inside Dhaka Cantonment. He was detained there till the first week of December 1971.'
“Begum Khaleda Zia: Her Life, Her Story” chapter-1 titled “Dinajpur to Dhaka” says, “Begum Zia was in the custody of the army until the fall of Dhaka on December 16, 1971.” During his imprisonment he faced the situation with courage and determination. He always kept calm in times of crisis and faced any situation with courage.'
Another account of the arrest is found in a book titled 'Nandit Netri Khaleda Zia' written by journalist Syed Abdal Ahmad published in August 1991. There is a statement by Khaleda Zia's eldest son Tariq Rahman Pino.
Pino comments on the memory of his mother's arrest, 'We stayed at Engineer's uncle's house for quite some time. They took good care of us. Ammu did not come out of the house much. On the day of her arrest, Ammu Engineer (Abdullah) was walking in the garden of her uncle's house – when a Pak Army jeep came and surrounded the house. After that mother, we two brothers, Abdullah Sahib, Mujibur Rahman blindfolded we were scared. But I did not cry.'
“He was taken blindfolded in a jeep first to the old parliament building and then to the army officers' mess in the cantonment. Takes us there. We two brothers and mother are kept in a room 'El Pattern'. Mom was not allowed to go out.''
Five and a half months of imprisonment
In the book 'Nandit Netri Khaleda Zia', Khaleda Zia's eldest son Tarek Rahman Pino commented, 'We used to go out for sports. They used to send mess food for mom. He used to send milk for us. Mom always kept us close. I used to see mom very worried. I did not understand at that time. I remember now. But when we were silent too, Ammu used to tell us stories. He said, we will return home after a few days. Ammu always used to pray at home while imprisoned and asked Allah for help.'
“Pakistani soldiers sometimes asked me where is my father?” Little brother Coco was very young. But he understood that we have this fate today because of them. One day, Coco sat down. As soon as a Pak Army came, he said 'Uncle Aloo.' There is a rule in the army that children call army men uncles. But Koko angrily said 'Uncle Aloo' that day.''
'There was a fierce battle shortly before we were released. Ears wanted to burst from the sound of heavy bombardment. Mom used to hold us in her arms. During the war, a part of our house was bombed. We were shaking with the loud noise. We also stopped crying. I saw my mother crying that day.' (Nandit Netri Khaleda Zia: Page: 35)
Journalist Syed Abdal Ahmad reports in his book, 'Mrs. Khurshid Jahan got a chance to talk to Begum Khaleda Zia and Mozammel Haque Sahib about a week after they were arrested. He recounted that memory – there was a Punjabi officer named Captain Ansari in the cantonment. Been trying for days to get permission to meet. When I finally met him, he asked my name. I said the name. He said that he has a sister named Khurshid. His mercy is.'
'He arranged for me to meet my husband and the doll. Of course, the doll was met much later. Major Kiani was in charge of puppets. He came on Hajj. The doll was given a prayer bed and asked to pray to Allah. I used to go sometimes. I used to take milk for them. Captain Ansari used to inform me about them.' Khurshid Jahan said.
Abdal Ahmed mentions in the book, “On December 16, the 9-month long bloody war of liberation was defeated by the invading forces of Pakistan. Khaleda Zia was released on the morning of December 16 after five and a half months of detention in the cantonment. In the morning, he was brought to his uncle's father-in-law's house in Purana Paltan in a jeep with two boys.
But he did not find any trace of Zia that day when he was freed from captivity. The apprehension is still not over. Is Zia alive? Khurshid Jahan (elder sister of Khaleda Zia) gave that description: 'I ran to the cantonment after hearing the news of the victory. Because at the end I did not get any news about the doll. I went to the cantonment and saw that there were no puppets. Part of the house where he used to live is in ruins and a huge hole. My chest heaved. So the dolls died in the bombing? Ran to Hotel Intercontinental (now Hotel Sheraton), there caught General Aurora. He said that Mrs. Zia and her sons have been sent to Purana Paltan. I was assured. Come and see the doll. I hugged my sister and cried. I cried out loud.'
Wife Arrested, Zia Threatens Gen Jamshed
On August 21, 1971, Ziaur Rahman wrote a letter about his wife Khaleda Zia. The then Major General Jamshed of Pakistan Army was in Dhaka Cantonment at that time. Begum Zia was detained under him. When Ziaur Rahman was serving in the Punjab Regiment in West Pakistan, his commander was Jamshed.
BNP Standing Committee member Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram wrote in his book 'Rakte Veja Attar' on August 21, 1971, he wrote a letter to Ziaur Rahman Jamshed. He read that letter. In English it says, 'Dear General Jamshed, My wife Khaleda is under your custody. If you don't treat her with respect, I will kill you someday.'
Journalist Mahfuzullah Khaleda said in Zia's biography, “Zia's letter was posted by Shafayat Jamil from the 'Occupied' area and reached Major General Jamshed.”
At that time Zia was worried about her family. Quoting former Foreign Minister Prof. Muhammad Shamsul Haque, writer Mahfuzullah wrote, 'But what moved me the most was the intense mental pain and suffering he (Ziaur Rahman) endured for 9 months with his wife and two children imprisoned in the Dhaka cantonment with calmness and courage. Tolerated with. He sent ultimatums with one threat after another asking him to surrender.'
Meeting with Zia
There are two accounts of Khaleda Zia's meeting with Ziaur Rahman after she was released from captivity on December 16. Journalist Mahfuzullah wrote in his book, 'After the surrender of the Pakistani Army, Khaleda Zia and her two sons were taken from Dhaka to Shamsernagar in Sylhet. At the request of Ziaur Rahman, General Arora arranged it. Major Chowdhury Khalekuzzaman and Captain Oli Ahmed received them at Shamsernagar Airport and took them to a local rest house. Khaleda Zia and their two children went to Comilla Cantonment with Ziaur Rahman from a very short time in Shamsernagar.'
Another description comes in the book of Syed Abdal Ahmad. According to Khaleda Zia's elder brother Khurshid Jahan. The writer mentions, 'But he did not find any trace of Zia that day when he was freed from captivity. The apprehension is still not over. Is Zia alive?'
According to Khurshid Jahan – '…but I still don't know about Zia. In this way one day two days passed. Some said Zia is injured, some said they are not letting him come. A lot of rumours. I didn't listen to all the rumors. In this way twenty-twenty-five days passed.'
'We two sisters went to Baitul Mukarram one day to do some shopping. Because there were no clothes. It was looted. As soon as I came home after shopping, I suddenly saw Pino and my son Don shouting from the third floor, “Daddy has arrived, Khalu has arrived.”
Khurshid Jahan also mentioned, 'Zia came running as soon as she went to the courtyard of the house. He hugged the doll. I saw that they are not in this world. Both have tears in their eyes. No one can say anything in emotion. Shivering. After a while, Zia suddenly woke up and was shocked to see me. Then he greeted me. That scene is unforgettable.'
Journalist Abdal Ahmad wrote in his book, 'Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia's contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh is unparalleled. Begum Zia's sacrifice is no less than that of a freedom fighter on the battlefield, even though she did not participate in direct combat. Begum Khaleda Zia was also a brave freedom fighter in the freedom movement of Bangladesh.
Incidentally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in the discussion of the intellectual day and victory day of the golden jubilee year of independence in 2021, 'National leader Khaleda Zia fought as the first woman freedom fighter since the beginning of the independence war. He was incarcerated in the prison of the Pakistani army with two children.'
Khaleda Zia was arrested many times
Khaleda Zia was arrested for the first time by the invading forces on July 2, 1971. He was then detained in the cantonment behind the old parliament building before being released on the morning of Victory Day on December 16.
BNP Chairperson's media wing and BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan told Bangla Tribune that he was arrested for the second time during the anti-Ershad movement. He was then detained at the police station. He was arrested three times in 1983, 1984 and 1987. He was also under house arrest in the cantonment house unannounced.
Khaleda Zia was taken to prison for the first time on September 3, 2007 after her arrest. He was released from Jatiya Sangsad subjail on September 11, 2008 by order of the High Court after spending almost one year and eight days in jail. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him in Ramna police station on July 3, 2008 while he was in jail at that time.
Shayrul Kabir Khan said that Khaleda Zia was blocked at her home in Gulshan on December 29, 2013 and at her office in Gulshan on January 5, 2015 during the power of the previous Awami League. At that time he was blocked for three months and three days (93 days). In the same year, the former prime minister returned home after appearing in the court in the first week of April.
On February 8, 2018, Begum Zia was sent to jail with the sentence of 'Formayeshi Raya'. He was kept alone in the old, crumbling walls and dangerous abandoned jail on Nazim Uddin Road. Shayrul Kabir said, conditional release by the government's executive order on March 25, 2020. Then on August 6, 2024, he was fully released by the order of the President.
Incidentally, Begum Khaleda Zia joined Armed Forces Day after being released from prison on August 6. After 2012, he went to the event for the first time. He and his elder son Tariq Rahman have also been invited to the Victory Day celebrations at Bangabhaban on December 16 (Monday).
