'Maa, you will be a queen,' dervish once foretold Khaleda Zia's destiny

During her childhood in Dinajpur, a wandering dervish (Muslim saint) once encountered child Khaleda Khanam—later known as Begum Khaleda Zia—and foretold her future, saying she would one day become a queen.

"Maa (mother), you will be a queen," the dervish told her.

The account was recently recalled by Kamrun Nahar Begum, a childhood playmate of Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away at 6:00am today (Tuesday).

Talking to BSS this afternoon, Kamrun Nahar described their close bond, saying, "My father, late Jamil Uddin Bari, and Begum Khaleda Zia's father, Iskandhar Majumdar, lived in adjoining houses in the 'Eidga Bosti' area of the city. We grew up together in the same neighbourhood."

She fondly recalled that during childhood, she and her elder sisters used to play with Khaleda Zia and attend school together. Khaleda Zia later became a close friend of her elder sister Mahmuda Begum, and they were classmates at Dinajpur Government Girls' School.

Recounting the day of the prophecy, Kamrun Nahar said that while they were playing, a dervish approached them and called Khaleda Zia closer. "Maa, you are a lucky girl; one day you will become a queen," the dervish said before leaving.

Kamrun Nahar, who was around 76 years old and had been living in Dinajpur, shared these memories. Her account was echoed by Advocate Molla Md Sakhawat Hossain, whose late mother, Shamsunnahar Begum—Kamrun Nahar's elder sister—also used to recount the story. Shamsunnahar Begum passed away on September 22, 2022.

Sakhawat Hossain said his mother often spoke of the dervish's prophecy coming true when Begum Khaleda Zia was first elected prime minister in 1991.

Another school friend of Khaleda Zia, 80-year-old Usharani Shil, daughter of Surendranath Shil of Dinajpur, also shared her recollections. She said Khaleda Zia studied with her at Dinajpur Government Girls' School from childhood and was kind-hearted, cheerful and friendly with everyone. Usharani added that Khaleda Zia was considered the most beautiful schoolgirl at the time.

Najma Yasmin, the current headmistress of Dinajpur Government Girls' School, said Khaleda Zia was admitted to Class IV in 1954 and passed matriculation from the school in 1960.

Khaleda Zia's childhood home, Tayeba Villa, was located in the Balubari area of Dinajpur municipality. The building now houses the National Diagnostic Centre, though the second-floor rooms where Khaleda Zia and her parents lived remain locked and preserved.

Karina Bewa, an elderly woman who has long been responsible for maintaining those rooms and had looked after Khaleda Zia's parents, said she never met Khaleda Zia herself but knew her parents well. Expressing sorrow at the news of her death, she said, "They were very good people. They loved me very much. Their relatives still come to this house."

Mosta Hasanur, a 78-year-old neighbour, also recalled Khaleda Zia's childhood, saying Tayeba Villa was named after her mother. He said Khaleda Zia, whom he knew as Putul Apa, was two to three years older than him and showed him great affection.

Khaleda Zia's cousin Abu Taher Abu said she left Dinajpur after her marriage to Ziaur Rahman. "We are all saddened to hear the news of her death and are praying for her departed soul," he said.

Headmistress Najma Yasmin said the school community feels proud that Begum Khaleda Zia was a student there. "She is the daughter of Dinajpur and a student of this school. She is our pride," she said.