BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has paid an emotional tribute to his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, following her death, describing her as both a national leader and a tender guardian at home.
In a heartfelt post on his official Facebook account, Tarique wrote: “My mother, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, has responded to the call of Almighty Allah and left us today. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
He reflected on her dual legacy, remembered by many as the “Mother of Democracy” and “Mother of Bangladesh,” while to him she was a loving parent who devoted her entire life to the country and its people.
“Throughout her life, she stood firm against autocracy, fascism, and domination, leading the struggle for freedom, sovereignty, and the restoration of democracy,” he said.
Khaleda Zia, who passed away at the age of 80, was Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and one of the most influential political figures in the country’s history.
She led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades, serving three terms as prime minister between 1991 and 2006.
Her tenure was marked by both achievements and controversies, but she remained a central figure in Bangladesh’s democratic journey.
Tarique Rahman recalled her sacrifices, noting that she endured repeated arrests, denial of medical care, and relentless persecution, yet continued to shelter her family with courage and compassion.
“Her resilience was not loud, but it was unbreakable,” he wrote.
He also spoke of her personal losses, including the deaths of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, and one of her children, which he said transformed the nation into her extended family and purpose.
“Though her life was illuminated by sacrifice and struggle, at home she was our truest guardian, a mother whose infinite love gave us strength in our darkest moments,” Tarique said.
He added that she leaves behind “an unforgettable legacy of patriotism, sacrifice, and resistance, a legacy that will live on in the democratic conscience of Bangladesh.”
Concluding his message, Tarique Rahman asked the people of Bangladesh to pray for his mother and expressed gratitude for the profound love and respect shown to her by citizens and well‑wishers around the world.
