BNP Chairperson and former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is celebrating her 81st birthday today (August 15). She was born on this day in 1945 in Nayabasti, Jalpaiguri, India.

Khaleda Zia joined politics after the martyrdom of her husband, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, and led the anti-dictatorship movement. She took office as the country's first female Prime Minister in 1991 and served three terms in this position. She has been imprisoned at least 11 times in her political career.

She was imprisoned and under house arrest for a long time during the 2007 One Eleven and subsequent Awami League governments. She went to prison on February 8, 2018 and was detained for almost two years due to illness. Despite her conditional release, she was not given the opportunity to go abroad for medical treatment. She was released on a presidential order after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 6.

Instead of cutting a cake or organizing grand celebrations on her birthday, BNP is holding Milad and Doa Mahfil programs across the country today. The programs, held at the party's Nayapaltan central office and mosques in Dhaka, will pray for the health and longevity of Begum Zia and the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs of the Liberation War, democratic movements and mass uprisings.