Syed Mostafa Alam Masum, Chief Coordinator of the National Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Cultural and Sports Association; Joint Coordinator Gulzar Hossain Rana; Vice President Jakerul Haque Babul; Muhammad Nuruzzaman Liton; S.M. Wasiyur Rahman; Dr. Hasan Ahmed; Muhammad Maruful Islam Chowdhury; Muhammad Jahangir Kamal; Muhammad Kamrul Islam Rana; Shamim Mostafa; Muhammad Zakir Hossain; Muhammad Rubel Hossain, along with other leaders, deeply mourn the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), former Prime Minister, and the uncompromising national leader of Bangladesh’s democratic movement. She passed away today (December 30) at 6:00 a.m. at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un).
In a joint statement, the leaders expressed profound grief at her demise. They stated that Begum Khaleda Zia’s life of struggle began during the turbulent period of the Great War of Independence. Following the martyrdom of President Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, she stepped out from domestic life and actively entered politics, embarking on a relentless journey of struggle at the national level.
In the 1991 national parliamentary elections, she was elected with an overwhelming mandate from five constituencies and made history by becoming the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh under the parliamentary system, earning the trust and affection of the people.
Until her last breath, Begum Khaleda Zia remained deeply revered in the hearts of the marginalized people of Bangladesh. Her passing marks the loss of an uncompromising national leader who stood firmly for independence, sovereignty, and democracy. Her absence is irreparable. The leaders expressed their deepest condolences and extended heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.
