Thursday, 01 January, 2026
While much of the world welcomed the New Year 2026 with fireworks and cascades of colour, Bangladesh crossed the threshold of the year in silence and sorrow. For the first time in its history, the nation greeted a New Year with a grieving heart, bidding a final farewell to one of its most influential leaders, Begum Khaleda Zia. On the opening day of 2026, she was laid to rest beside her late husband, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, uniting in death two figures who profoundly shaped the modern political journey of Bangladesh. The government has declared three days of state mourning from Wednesday to Friday (December 31 to January 2) following the passing of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Additionally, a nationwide public holiday has been announced for Wednesday.
The moment was both solemn and symbolic. A turbulent year—marked by efforts at state reform, outbreaks of mob violence, a devastating earthquake, the long-awaited return of Tarique Rahman, and finally the death of Khaleda Zia—came to an end not with celebration, but with collective mourning. As midnight struck on Wednesday, brief flashes of light pierced the Dhaka sky, signalling the arrival of the Christian New Year. Yet the country remained subdued, observing three days of state mourning. The sound of revelry was replaced by silence; the spirit of festivity gave way to reflection.
Only a year earlier, the contrast could not have been starker. The arrival of 2025 had seen thousands of young people—particularly women—filling Dhaka’s streets, restaurants and open fields with song, laughter and celebration. This time, the capital and cities across the country appeared wrapped in a winter chill of grief. Apart from a few firecrackers lit by children, Bangladesh stood still, united in loss.
Remarkably, the silence required no enforcement. Law enforcement agencies found little need to patrol the streets on New Year’s Eve. The restraint came from within. City dwellers, and indeed the nation at large, were absorbed in the pain of losing a leader whose presence they had long taken for granted. Many struggled with the suddenness of her departure, lamenting that she had left without a final word.
Begum Khaleda Zia’s final days deepened the poignancy of that loss. She spent weeks in the intensive care unit of Evercare Hospital, locked in a quiet and determined struggle against death. Doctors advised advanced treatment abroad. She refused. Her words were simple and resolute: Bangladesh was her home; she did not wish to die on foreign soil. She often said she had no address outside this country. For her, Bangladesh was not merely a nation—it was identity, belonging and destiny.
In an era when many leaders have sought refuge or medical care overseas, her decision stood out. Despite enduring prison, persecution and profound personal tragedy, she never left the country. She led movements against autocracy at great personal cost, facing false cases, repeated attacks and the harsh realities of incarceration. She lost her younger son; her elder son, Tarique Rahman, was forced into exile in London for seventeen years. Yet she remained rooted in Bangladesh, insisting that the people and soil of this land were her life. That unwavering commitment explains why her death resonates so deeply, and why she will endure in the nation’s collective memory as a guiding star.
Even in mourning, Bangladesh enters 2026 with hope. With a national election in February, the New Year marks a pivotal moment for democracy. In his message, he called the New Year a reflection of shared values, bringing renewed hope and new possibilities.
The scenes at her funeral reflected that bond. Millions attended—men and women, young and old, many travelling from remote regions, some in their eighties. They were ordinary citizens—farmers, shopkeepers, labourers, women and children—carrying memories of hardship. Many recalled the 1974 famine and how President Ziaur Rahman transformed that grim chapter, associating Khaleda Zia’s leadership with food security, economic foresight, and dignity for the people.
Yet even in grief, Bangladesh does not begin 2026 without hope. Begum Khaleda Zia leaves behind a political successor in Tarique Rahman, who has returned home after seventeen years of exile to complete what many see as an unfinished mission. With a national election scheduled for February, the New Year opens as a decisive chapter in the country’s democratic journey.
In his New Year message, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman used the moment not for rhetoric, but for resolve. He called for the restoration of democracy through a free, fair and credible election, and for the formation of an accountable government. Rejecting destruction and revenge, he urged the nation to choose love, tolerance, peace and harmony. Reflecting on the past year, he acknowledged both achievement and loss, arguing that these experiences must serve as lessons rather than burdens.
He warned that anti-democratic forces have long held the people’s rights hostage, weakening pluralism and accountability. Restoring democracy, he said, demands unity among all democratic forces and a genuine return to multi-party politics. In his framing, democracy is not a single electoral event, but a continuous process rooted in participation, respect for rights and responsible governance.
Beyond politics, Tarique Rahman placed the New Year in a broader cultural context. January 1, he noted, is now a global moment of reflection and renewal, observed across nations while preserving their own traditions. The New Year is not merely a festival; it is a mirror of collective values and aspirations, carrying fresh hope and new possibilities.
The Bangladesh Express joins the nation in mourning Begum Khaleda Zia, a towering leader whose life and sacrifice shaped Bangladesh. As 2026 begins in sorrow, it also presents a moment for reflection and renewal. Through a peaceful election and a renewed commitment to democracy, the country can honour her legacy in action, not words. Welcome to 2026—a year of grief, resolve, and enduring hope for democracy.
Comments
While much of the world welcomed the New Year 2026 with fireworks and cascades of colour, Bangladesh crossed the threshold of the year in silence and sorrow. For the first time in its history, the nation greeted a New Year with a grieving heart, bidding a final farewell to one of its most influential leaders, Begum Khaleda Zia. On the opening day of 2026, she was laid to rest beside her late husband, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, uniting in death two figures who profoundly shaped the modern political journey of Bangladesh. The government has declared three days of state mourning from Wednesday to Friday (December 31 to January 2) following the passing of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Additionally, a nationwide public holiday has been announced for Wednesday.
The moment was both solemn and symbolic. A turbulent year—marked by efforts at state reform, outbreaks of mob violence, a devastating earthquake, the long-awaited return of Tarique Rahman, and finally the death of Khaleda Zia—came to an end not with celebration, but with collective mourning. As midnight struck on Wednesday, brief flashes of light pierced the Dhaka sky, signalling the arrival of the Christian New Year. Yet the country remained subdued, observing three days of state mourning. The sound of revelry was replaced by silence; the spirit of festivity gave way to reflection.
Only a year earlier, the contrast could not have been starker. The arrival of 2025 had seen thousands of young people—particularly women—filling Dhaka’s streets, restaurants and open fields with song, laughter and celebration. This time, the capital and cities across the country appeared wrapped in a winter chill of grief. Apart from a few firecrackers lit by children, Bangladesh stood still, united in loss.
Remarkably, the silence required no enforcement. Law enforcement agencies found little need to patrol the streets on New Year’s Eve. The restraint came from within. City dwellers, and indeed the nation at large, were absorbed in the pain of losing a leader whose presence they had long taken for granted. Many struggled with the suddenness of her departure, lamenting that she had left without a final word.
Begum Khaleda Zia’s final days deepened the poignancy of that loss. She spent weeks in the intensive care unit of Evercare Hospital, locked in a quiet and determined struggle against death. Doctors advised advanced treatment abroad. She refused. Her words were simple and resolute: Bangladesh was her home; she did not wish to die on foreign soil. She often said she had no address outside this country. For her, Bangladesh was not merely a nation—it was identity, belonging and destiny.
In an era when many leaders have sought refuge or medical care overseas, her decision stood out. Despite enduring prison, persecution and profound personal tragedy, she never left the country. She led movements against autocracy at great personal cost, facing false cases, repeated attacks and the harsh realities of incarceration. She lost her younger son; her elder son, Tarique Rahman, was forced into exile in London for seventeen years. Yet she remained rooted in Bangladesh, insisting that the people and soil of this land were her life. That unwavering commitment explains why her death resonates so deeply, and why she will endure in the nation’s collective memory as a guiding star.
Even in mourning, Bangladesh enters 2026 with hope. With a national election in February, the New Year marks a pivotal moment for democracy. In his message, he called the New Year a reflection of shared values, bringing renewed hope and new possibilities.
The scenes at her funeral reflected that bond. Millions attended—men and women, young and old, many travelling from remote regions, some in their eighties. They were ordinary citizens—farmers, shopkeepers, labourers, women and children—carrying memories of hardship. Many recalled the 1974 famine and how President Ziaur Rahman transformed that grim chapter, associating Khaleda Zia’s leadership with food security, economic foresight, and dignity for the people.
Yet even in grief, Bangladesh does not begin 2026 without hope. Begum Khaleda Zia leaves behind a political successor in Tarique Rahman, who has returned home after seventeen years of exile to complete what many see as an unfinished mission. With a national election scheduled for February, the New Year opens as a decisive chapter in the country’s democratic journey.
In his New Year message, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman used the moment not for rhetoric, but for resolve. He called for the restoration of democracy through a free, fair and credible election, and for the formation of an accountable government. Rejecting destruction and revenge, he urged the nation to choose love, tolerance, peace and harmony. Reflecting on the past year, he acknowledged both achievement and loss, arguing that these experiences must serve as lessons rather than burdens.
He warned that anti-democratic forces have long held the people’s rights hostage, weakening pluralism and accountability. Restoring democracy, he said, demands unity among all democratic forces and a genuine return to multi-party politics. In his framing, democracy is not a single electoral event, but a continuous process rooted in participation, respect for rights and responsible governance.
Beyond politics, Tarique Rahman placed the New Year in a broader cultural context. January 1, he noted, is now a global moment of reflection and renewal, observed across nations while preserving their own traditions. The New Year is not merely a festival; it is a mirror of collective values and aspirations, carrying fresh hope and new possibilities.
The Bangladesh Express joins the nation in mourning Begum Khaleda Zia, a towering leader whose life and sacrifice shaped Bangladesh. As 2026 begins in sorrow, it also presents a moment for reflection and renewal. Through a peaceful election and a renewed commitment to democracy, the country can honour her legacy in action, not words. Welcome to 2026—a year of grief, resolve, and enduring hope for democracy.
Comments
