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Published : 31 Dec 2025, 03:57 AM
“Oh Allah, if only You had kept her alive a few more days, my Madam (Khaleda Zia) could have seen the election.”
This was the lament of a female BNP activist, weeping inconsolably in front of Evercare Hospital in the capital’s Basundhara on Tuesday morning.
She said, “Our politics ends today. Madam is gone; who will I talk to now?”
As the country remains gripped by the election frenzy, the activist expressed her yearning in a mournful tone upon hearing of the BNP chairperson and the nation's first female prime minister’s demise.
Khaleda, the three-time premier, had been undergoing treatment at Evercare for 40 days. As news of her passing broke at 6am, party activists began to converge outside the hospital.
Grief was expressed not only in Dhaka but in every corner of the country. Silence descended upon the political offices of all parties, including the BNP, across the country.
Once the initial shock began to subside, some BNP members started preparing to travel to Dhaka to bid their leader a final farewell.
Among them was Nazrul Islam Khan, the convenor of the Pirojpur District BNP.
He told bdnews24.com that a large number of activists from his district would head to Dhaka to attend her funeral prayers.
On Tuesday morning, immediately after the news of the uncompromising leader’s death broke, many activists began enquiring about where the party chairperson would be buried.
Upon learning the location, Palash Khan, vice-president of the Munshiganj District branch of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS), arrived at Zia Udyan.
The BNP chairperson will be laid to rest here, beside the grave of her husband former president Ziaur Rahman. As part of the preparations, law-enforcing agencies occupied the scene before the crowds of activists could swell further.
Palash and many others like him were unable to enter and stood outside Zia Udyan, some with tears in their eyes.
In an emotional voice, Palash said: “This is an irreparable loss for Bangladesh. She never compromised on the interests of Bangladesh; that is why she is called the 'uncompromising leader'.
“She was extremely compassionate towards her activists and would draw them close with love. When I heard the news of her death, I couldn't contain myself.”
Following the news of the 79-year-old leader's passing, grief-stricken party members flocked not only to the hospital and Zia Udyan but also to the chairperson’s office in Gulshan.
Beyond party loyalists, people from all walks of life expressed their sorrow at the death of the three-time prime minister.
Following the news, the government declared three days of state mourning. Multiple programmes, including the Jagannath University Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) election, scholarship exams, and primary teacher recruitment tests, have been postponed, as a shadow of grief looms over the nation.
All preparations for Khaleda Zia’s burial with state honours have been completed for Wednesday.
Her funeral prayers will be held at 2pm at the South Plaza of the parliament building, after which she will be interred at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, beside the late president Ziaur Rahman.
The president, the chief advisor, all political parties, and citizens from all walks of life have mourned her passing.
Just as the Bangladeshi community at home and abroad is in mourning, heads of state and government, and diplomats from various countries have sent messages of condolence.
Following the death of the chairperson while leading the country’s largest party, a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee, chaired by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, reached several important decisions.
BNP ANNOUNCES 7 DAYS OF MOURNING
The BNP announced seven days of mourning for Khaleda.
Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at 9am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital.
Black flags will be hoisted at the central office in Naya Paltan and all other offices across the country for seven days. Party members at all levels will wear black badges during this period, he said.
Recitations of the Quran and prayers will be held at every party office for seven days.
Condolence books will be opened at the central office in Naya Paltan and the chairperson’s office in Gulshan, as well as at district-level offices.
JnUCSU POLLS RESCHEDULED ON JAN 6
The first-ever Jagannath University Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) election was scheduled to take place from 8:30am to 3pm on Tuesday.
Following Khaleda’s demise at 6am, the university syndicate held an emergency meeting between 8:30am and 9am and postponed the vote.
The syndicate has set Jan 6 as the new date for the JnUCSU polls.
ADVISORY COUNCIL'S EMERGENCY MEETING; FUNERAL, BURIAL WEDNESDAY
The Advisory Council of the interim government held an emergency meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna after 10:30am on Tuesday to decide on Khaleda’s funeral rites.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the meeting.
Following the meeting, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said that Khaleda’s funeral prayers would be held after Zuhr prayers on Wednesday at the South Plaza of the parliament and the adjacent Manik Mia Avenue.
No bags or heavy items may be carried during the prayers. As the burial will be a state event, public access will be restricted.
3 DAYS OF STATE MOURNING, PUBLIC HOLIDAY WEDNESDAY
The Advisory Council also decided to declare three days of state mourning and a one-day public holiday on Wednesday, the day of her funeral.
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus announced the government’s decision in an address to the nation at midday, broadcast simultaneously on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.
A subsequent notice from the Cabinet Division said that, as part of the state mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast for three days at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and educational institutions, as well as all public and private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special prayers for the salvation of the former prime minister's soul will be held at all mosques across the country this coming Friday. Special prayers will also be organised at other religious institutions.
STRICT SECURITY FOR FUNERAL, BURIAL
Several advisors met at the home ministry to discuss security arrangements for the state funeral.
Chaired by Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by advisors Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and Khalilur Rahman. retired Brig Gen AKM Shamsul Islam, head of Khaleda and Tarique's security team, was also present.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “The government has decided to take all necessary security measures for the state funeral and burial of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.”
LIMITED ACCESS TO ZIA UDYAN
As part of the burial preparations, law enforcers began limiting public access to Zia Udyan from Tuesday afternoon.
In the evening, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam visited the tomb of former president Ziaur Rahman at Zia Udyan and inspected the site where the grave is being prepared for Khaleda.
FOREIGN DIGNITARIES ARRIVING TO PAY RESPECT
Heads of state and diplomatic missions from several countries have expressed their condolences.
Messages arrived on Tuesday from countries across South Asia, East Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, highlighting Khaleda’s long political career and her role in shaping the modern political landscape of Bangladesh.
Missions in Bangladesh from the USA, UK, EU, China, and other nations expressed their grief.
The Indian High Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka announced in the afternoon that Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would visit Bangladesh to pay his last respects.
CAMPAIGN SUSPENDED UNTIL WEDNESDAY
The government’s promotional activities on the referendum have been suspended until Wednesday.
Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief advisor and chief coordinator of awareness campaigns for the national election and the referendum, told bdnews24.com: "State mourning has been declared for Wednesday. We have asked for the government’s promotional activities over the referendum to be suspended until tomorrow."
