Thursday, 01 January, 2026
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday appealed to the people of Bangladesh to pray for his late mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, seeking forgiveness on her behalf for any hurt she may have caused.
Addressing a vast gathering of mourners at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad complex shortly before her namaz-e-janaza, Tarique said: “I am Tarique Rahman, the elder son of the late Begum Khaleda Zia. If my mother had taken any loan from anyone during her lifetime, I request you to contact me. I will arrange repayment, Insha’Allah.”
He added, “If anyone was hurt by any of her actions or words, I sincerely seek forgiveness on behalf of the departed. Please pray that Allah Almighty grants her Jannah.”
The brief, heartfelt address at 2:58pm reflected the emotion of a son from an ordinary Muslim family, delivered as part of the formal funeral proceedings. Khaleda Zia’s body had been placed on a temporary stage at the South Plaza around 2:45pm ahead of the janaza.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan read a short life sketch of Khaleda Zia, highlighting her entry into politics, decades-long struggle for democracy, unwavering commitment to democratic values, and deep patriotism, and urged all present to pray for her soul.
Renowned Islamic scholar and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib, Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, led the namaz-e-janaza at 3:02pm. Khaleda Zia was subsequently laid to rest beside her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at around 4:30pm with full state honours.
The three-time former Prime Minister passed away at 6am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital, where she had been treated for over a month for multiple critical health complications, at the age of 80.
Calls for United Efforts to Restore Democracy
In a message marking the English New Year 2026, Tarique Rahman also called for collective efforts to restore democracy through free and fair elections and the formation of an accountable government. He appealed to citizens to reject destruction and revenge, and instead work towards building a society grounded in love, tolerance, peace, and harmony.
“The past year remains vivid in our minds. Alongside achievements and successes, there were bitter experiences and the pain of losing loved ones, leaving us both encouraged and deeply saddened,” Tarique said.
He stressed the need to form an accountable government through free and fair elections, ensure the political and economic empowerment of the people, and work collectively to restore full democracy.
Tarique added that anti-democratic forces had long held the people’s rights captive, and that the nation must now unite all democratic forces to re-establish multi-party democracy.
Extending New Year greetings, he wished peace, happiness, wellbeing, and prosperity for people at home and abroad, and noted that the New Year brings fresh hope, renewed determination, and new possibilities.
“The New Year is not merely a festival; it reflects culture, heritage, and collective values. In the new year, we dream anew of building a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh, a nation where every citizen matters and every voice is free,” he said.
Tarique urged that all injustice, oppression, and persecution must be ended, and appealed to citizens to overcome social and political barriers together.
“Let our message in the New Year be: not destruction, not revenge—let us build a society based on love, tolerance, peace, and harmony. We must build a democratic Bangladesh founded on human rights and social justice,” he concluded.
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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday appealed to the people of Bangladesh to pray for his late mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, seeking forgiveness on her behalf for any hurt she may have caused.
Addressing a vast gathering of mourners at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad complex shortly before her namaz-e-janaza, Tarique said: “I am Tarique Rahman, the elder son of the late Begum Khaleda Zia. If my mother had taken any loan from anyone during her lifetime, I request you to contact me. I will arrange repayment, Insha’Allah.”
He added, “If anyone was hurt by any of her actions or words, I sincerely seek forgiveness on behalf of the departed. Please pray that Allah Almighty grants her Jannah.”
The brief, heartfelt address at 2:58pm reflected the emotion of a son from an ordinary Muslim family, delivered as part of the formal funeral proceedings. Khaleda Zia’s body had been placed on a temporary stage at the South Plaza around 2:45pm ahead of the janaza.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan read a short life sketch of Khaleda Zia, highlighting her entry into politics, decades-long struggle for democracy, unwavering commitment to democratic values, and deep patriotism, and urged all present to pray for her soul.
Renowned Islamic scholar and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib, Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, led the namaz-e-janaza at 3:02pm. Khaleda Zia was subsequently laid to rest beside her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at around 4:30pm with full state honours.
The three-time former Prime Minister passed away at 6am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital, where she had been treated for over a month for multiple critical health complications, at the age of 80.
Calls for United Efforts to Restore Democracy
In a message marking the English New Year 2026, Tarique Rahman also called for collective efforts to restore democracy through free and fair elections and the formation of an accountable government. He appealed to citizens to reject destruction and revenge, and instead work towards building a society grounded in love, tolerance, peace, and harmony.
“The past year remains vivid in our minds. Alongside achievements and successes, there were bitter experiences and the pain of losing loved ones, leaving us both encouraged and deeply saddened,” Tarique said.
He stressed the need to form an accountable government through free and fair elections, ensure the political and economic empowerment of the people, and work collectively to restore full democracy.
Tarique added that anti-democratic forces had long held the people’s rights captive, and that the nation must now unite all democratic forces to re-establish multi-party democracy.
Extending New Year greetings, he wished peace, happiness, wellbeing, and prosperity for people at home and abroad, and noted that the New Year brings fresh hope, renewed determination, and new possibilities.
“The New Year is not merely a festival; it reflects culture, heritage, and collective values. In the new year, we dream anew of building a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh, a nation where every citizen matters and every voice is free,” he said.
Tarique urged that all injustice, oppression, and persecution must be ended, and appealed to citizens to overcome social and political barriers together.
“Let our message in the New Year be: not destruction, not revenge—let us build a society based on love, tolerance, peace, and harmony. We must build a democratic Bangladesh founded on human rights and social justice,” he concluded.
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