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Published : 01 Jan 2026, 04:26 PM
The mausoleum of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar has been reopened to visitors, drawing a steady stream of supporters seeking to pay their respects to Khaleda Zia.
The tomb complex, which had remained closed to the public for a day following former prime minister Khaleda’s burial, was opened shortly after 12pm on Thursday amid tight security.
Khaleda, the BNP chief and widow of Ziaur Rahman, was laid to rest with state honours beside her husband’s grave on Wednesday afternoon.
From early morning on the first day of the Christian New Year, BNP activists began gathering near Bijoy Sarani before gradually moving near the mausoleum.
Although the road was reopened to traffic around 9am, security personnel initially barred the general public from entering the complex.
Earlier in the day, former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar visited the grave under heavy security. BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince also offered prayers from outside the security cordon.
Speaking to reporters after his visit, Babar said: “Our leader upheld the ideals of Ziaur Rahman throughout her life. Our national leader Tarique Rahman, who embodies the spirit of protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty, is following those ideals.”
He urged party supporters to pray for Khaleda, adding: “May Allah grant her the highest place in heaven.”
Once the complex was opened, the zone quickly filled with mourners. Men and women of all ages, including children and school students, were seen arriving to lay wreaths and offer prayers. Many stood silently before Khaleda’s grave, while others struggled to hold back tears.
Sultan Mahmud, a Jubo Dal activist from Kurigram, said Khaleda’s legacy would endure.
“As long as Bangladesh exists, no one will forget Khaleda Zia. Generations will remember her because she sacrificed everything to keep the flag of democracy flying,” he said.
Saiful Alam, a BNP activist from Badda, recalled seeing Khaleda visit Ziaur Rahman’s grave repeatedly over the years.
“Today, the leader is gone and we are visiting her grave. When I think about it, my heart breaks,” he said, adding that he prayed for her eternal peace.
Babar later said he felt compelled to visit the grave early in the day. “Our leader has left us, but her ideals will remain our guiding path,” he said, adding that the BNP would continue what he described as the democratic path under Tarique’s leadership.
Visitors continued to arrive throughout the day, with some allowed to stand at one side of the grave to recite verses from the Quran. Members of the Army and other law-enforcing agencies were deployed across the area to maintain order.
Khaleda died early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
