• Source:JND

Even after stepping away from active politics, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia remained instantly recognisable, her oversized dark sunglasses and sharply defined eyebrows etched into public memory as much as her turbulent political career.

Khaleda Zia, who died in Dhaka following a prolonged illness, was not only a central figure in Bangladesh’s power politics for over three decades but also a leader whose appearance quietly evolved into a symbol of authority, resilience and defiance. She was 79. Bangladesh has declared three days of state mourning, with her funeral prayers scheduled for Wednesday. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, with full state honours.

A Look That Became Political

Over the years, Khaleda Zia’s public image drew almost as much attention as her politics. Her preference for light-coloured sarees, minimal jewellery and neutral footwear projected austerity, while her ever-present black sunglasses lent an air of mystery during court visits, rallies and hospital appearances.

Yet it was her eyebrows, high, sharply arched and meticulously shaped that sparked repeated public fascination, particularly during her later years. Photographs following her release from prison and subsequent medical treatment often went viral, with social media users speculating about whether her brows were natural or cosmetically enhanced. There was never any official comment, but netizens note that the brows had gradually become more sculpted over time, coinciding with her rise as an uncompromising opposition figure.

Khaleda Zia’s wardrobe rarely strayed from simplicity. White sarees with black borders, pastel cottons and restrained silks became her signature. Supporters viewed these choices as deliberate, a visual assertion of restraint and solidarity with ordinary citizens. Her jewellery was sparse small gold earrings, pearls and light bangles reinforcing an image far removed from elite excess.

More Than An Image

Beyond appearances, Khaleda Zia’s political legacy remains deeply complex. A conservative leader who nonetheless expanded girls’ education, opposed child marriage and strengthened domestic violence laws, she often used her credibility with the religious right to advance reforms that might otherwise have faced resistance.

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At the same time, her tenure was marked by sharp rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, strained ties with India, the creation of the controversial Rapid Action Battalion, and alliances with Islamist parties that reshaped Bangladesh’s political landscape.

In her final years, illness confined her to a wheelchair and reduced her public appearances, but even then, her image retained its symbolic weight. Covered hair replaced her bouffant, and sunglasses remained firmly in place.

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As Bangladesh reflects on the life and contradictions of its first female head of government, Khaleda Zia’s legacy endures, not only through policy and politics, but through an unmistakable public persona that became inseparable from power itself.


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