Released on = April 8, 2006, 10:18 am

Press Release Author = Patricia Ovemarrie, News2006

Industry = Media

Press Release Summary = Bangladesh Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, who succeeded
in getting people's mandate for third time to form the government, has emerged as
the most potential figure to mediate Middle East crisis for a number of reasons.
Begum Zia leads the second largest Muslim nations in the world, as presently is the
only female head of the state in the Muslim world.

Press Release Body = Bangladesh Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, who succeeded in
getting people's mandate for third time to form the government, has emerged as the
most potential figure to mediate Middle East crisis for a number of reasons. Begum
Zia leads the second largest Muslim nations in the world, as presently is the only
female head of the state in the Muslim world.
Khaleda presently also leads Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is one of the
largest political parties in the country. Being a woman hailing from conservative
Muslim family, she entered politics when her husband President Ziaur Rahman was
brutally murdered at an coup in the early eighties at the port city of Chittagong.
Ziaur Rahman came into power when Bangladesh was witnessing lots of political
uncertainties following the murder of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family and coup
and counter coup by sections of officers of Bangladesh army. Mujib was the leading
figure in the independence of the country, while Zia made the first announcement of
independence of Bangladesh when he was just a major from Kalurghat radio station.
Political analysts opine that, by pronouncing independence, Ziaur Rahman virtually
took a serious risk on his shoulder. But, Zia did take the risk as he was the truest
patriot who always was dreaming of an independent Bangladesh. After assuming power,
Zia took a number of positive steps to re-open the multi party political atmosphere
in the country as well withdrew Shaikh Mujib's authoritarian law, which stopped all
the newspapers, except two belonging to the state.
Even political rivals of Zia acknowledge that he was the cleanest figure in
Bangladesh. Corruption could never touch him. He lived an extreme simple life. And
although he was the most powerful President in the country, he opted to have his
food supplied from military canteen, which had been also supplied to other army
personnel in the country. Zia had charismatic leadership while he lived a very
simple life. Possibly Khaleda Zia learnt a lot from her late husband, which she now
applies to transform Bangladesh to a prosperous nation in South Asia. Recently TIME
magazine published a cover story on Mrs. Zia giving lots of projections to her
positive works for her nation.
Mrs. Zia has also shown her zeal in delivering commendable leadership in
strengthening the spirit of SAARC, as the current chair person of the regional
forum. No doubt, as the leader of the Muslim state, she has certain obligations in
putting her efforts in resolving the existing crisis in the Middle East. Bangladesh
presently is combating Islamist terrorists in their own land. Similar elements are
also active in the Middle East, which is always hampering the peace process. Recent
election of Hamas in Palestine stands as a potential obstacle to Middle East peace.
Everyone knows about the terrorist nature of Hamas. Considering these facts, number
of Muslim nations, including Pakistan is extending hands of relations to Israel.
Bangladesh too needs to follow this path. By having relations with Israel,
Bangladesh will surely be in the position of a solid mediator of the peace process.
Moreover, the country can immensely benefited economically and technologically both
from Israel and Jewish community in the world. It is surely now time for Begum
Khaleda Zia to decide quick on this issue and begin a new era of cooperation and
understanding with the only democratic nation in the Middle East.


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