A book titled, “Begum Khaleda Zia: Her Life, Her Story” was unveiled yesterday at a hotel in Dhaka.

The 720-page biography, written by veteran journalist Mahfuz Ullah, depicts Khaleda Zia's political journey of becoming a leader after her husband President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981.

In the introduction of the book, writer Mahfuz Ullah said Khaleda Zia, since she became a widow at 36, has dedicated herself to the service of the nation. Her “assumption of political, and later governmental, authority was both a need of the hour as well as a response to a historical challenge”.

“I have carefully maintained political notes or diary… and those have helped me profoundly,” Mahfuz Ullah said in his opening speech. “Women's leadership [in Bangladesh] was initiated by Begum Zia…,” he said.

“Reading this book, readers will understand that it is a unique story of persuasive personality, leadership and struggle,” he added.

Commenting on the book, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said, “We have much to know about them [Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina], whose thoughts, activities, decisions or indecisions have influenced the lives of… people [of Bangladesh] in the last 30 years.”

Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University said, “Emergence of Begum Zia began with sympathy as she was the wife of Ziaur Rahman. But I was amazed by how she could transform that sympathy into respect in a short time.”

The Universal Academy published the book, written in English. Its price has been set at Tk 2,000.

Md Shihabuddin Bhuiyan, publisher of the book, former ambassador Anwar Hashim and Prof Laila N Islam of DU addressed the programme, among others.