Khaleda Zia’s unique election record: Undefeated in every seat she contested

Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was never defeated in a parliamentary election, winning every seat she contested across five national polls between 1991 and 2008, according to her electoral record.

Khaleda Zia contested a total of 23 seats in five general elections and emerged victorious in each contest.

Although constituencies changed across elections, the outcome remained the same, with her name on the ballot consistently resulting in victory.

No other leader has matched this electoral record in Bangladesh's parliamentary history.

Since her entry into politics in the 80s, Khaleda Zia contested in five constituencies each time in four general elections from 1991 to 2001, and won all seats.

In the 2008 election, she contested three seats and secured victory in all of them.

In the 5th general election in 1991, Khaleda Zia contested from Bogura-7, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-9, Feni-1 and Chattogram-8. When BNP formed the government after the polls, Khaleda Zia became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh.

In the February 1996 election, she contested in Feni-1, Feni-2, Bogura-7, Sirajganj-2, and Rajshahi-2 seats. Once again, she won all five seats and chose to retain Feni-1, vacating the others.

In the 7th national election held just four months later in June 1996, due to controversy regarding the previous one, Khaleda Zia contested in Bogura-6, Bogura-7, Feni-1, Lakshmipur-2 and Chattogram-1 and won all five.

In the 2001 general election, Khaleda Zia contested from Bogura-6, Bogura-7, Feni-1, Lakshmipur-2 and Khulna-2. After winning in all five constituencies, she opted to represent Bogura-6 in parliament.

In the 2008 election, she contested from Bogura-6, Bogura-7 and Feni-1. She won all three seats and retained the Feni-1 constituency.

A review of her electoral history shows that she most frequently contested seats in Bogura, Feni, Lakshmipur and Chattogram.

Election results indicate that her victories were often marked by significant margins over rival candidates.

Khaleda Zia entered politics following the assassination of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, in 1981. Before that, she lived a private life as a housewife and had no direct involvement in politics. Her political rise later became closely associated with Bangladesh's democratic movements.

For the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, nomination papers for Khaleda Zia were submitted in the Feni-1, Bogura-7 and Dinajpur-3 constituencies. Yesterday (29 December), was the final date for submitting nomination papers.

In Bogura-7, five candidates submitted nomination papers, while 10 candidates each submitted papers in Dinajpur-3 and Feni-1. Scrutiny of the nomination papers was scheduled to determine their validity.

However, Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am today (30 December), before the scrutiny process began.

As multiple BNP candidates are contesting in these constituencies, the list of valid candidates has yet to be finalised following scrutiny.

According to election procedures, the returning officer declares a nomination valid if all requirements are met and cancels it if defects are found under the relevant laws and rules.

Candidates may appeal such decisions to the Election Commission. After the withdrawal deadline, the final list of valid candidates is prepared and symbols are allocated by the returning officer.

There is also a legal provision to cancel election activities and reschedule polls if a valid candidate dies.

However, as Khaleda Zia passed away before the scrutiny of nomination papers, the nominations submitted in her name will remain suspended, while the election process will continue, according to the returning officer.

BNP has kept alternative contenders as part of their election strategy in the three constituencies but has yet to confirm who will contest under the party's electoral symbol.