Muslim Women: Past and Present

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Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Khaleda Zia

If we want to progress as a country, if we want to remove poverty, if we have to spread awareness of family planning and bring down population growth, we have to educate them [girls], give them equal rights. Women have to prove that they are no less than men. I am trying to end [the] dowry [system]. That will only happen when women start working as professionals.

—Khaleda Zia in an interview with TIMEasia Magazine, April 3, 2006

photo of Khaleda Zia Photo credit: Zia Islam/AP Images

Known For: First Female Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Dates: Hijri 1364 – Present (AH)
Common Era 1945 – Present (CE)
Country: Bangladesh

About

Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, governed the country from 1991-1996 and again from 2001-2006.  She currently leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). 

In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman, who at that time was a captain in the Pakistani army. In 1971, he declared the independence of Bangladesh and became president six years later.  Rahman established the BNP in order to move away from military rule.

It was after Ziaur’s assassination in 1981 that Khaleda began her political career.  In 1984, the BNP elected her chairman of the party.  She spent the next seven years fighting against the military government of General Hossain Mohammad Ershad. She endured political harassment and was arrested on multiple occasions.  Under her leadership, the BNP – although the political opposition party – did not compromise its principles for the sake of a political alliance with the ruling military government. 

Ershad resigned in 1990, and the BNP won the election a year later.  In 1991, Khaleda Zia became Prime Minister after securing a majority of votes from Parliament.  During her first term, Zia worked on education, gender, and environmental issues.  She has been credited with instituting compulsory primary education and free education for girls up to grade 10. 

Although the BNP lost to Sheikh Hassina’s Awami League in the 1996 elections, it garnered enough votes to become the largest of the opposition parties.  During this time, the BNP created alliances with various other political parties.  This alliance was large enough to win a majority of the votes in the 2001 elections. For the second time, Khaleda Zia was installed as Prime Minister.  In 2006, she was ranked #33 in Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful Women.

In 2006, her term as Prime Minister expired.  She again ran for political office in the 2008 elections but lost to Sheikh Hassina’s Awami League. 

Sources

TIME Asia, ”Extended Interview: ”We Have Arrested So Many – TIME talks to Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia” April 3, 2006

”Life Sketch Begum Khaleda Zia, Hon’Ble Prime Minister People’s Republic of Bangladesh,”

More Information

NY Times, ”Times Topics—Khaleda Zia,

Virtual Bangladesh: Biography, ‘Khaleda Zia’, August 17, 2006

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.