Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed condolences on the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia. Through a post, he expressed his condolences to the supporters of Khaleda Zia’s son, BNP.
Sheikh Hasina, in a post issued by her party, Awami League, said, “I express my deepest condolences on the demise of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Her contribution to the nation as the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and her role in the struggle to establish democracy was significant and will always be remembered. Her demise is a deep blow to the political life of Bangladesh and the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.”
She was quoted as saying, “I pray for the repose and forgiveness of the soul of Begum Khaleda Zia. I express my heartfelt condolences to her son Tariq Rehman and his bereaved family members. I also express my condolences to the BNP family. I hope that Almighty Allah will grant them the fortitude, strength and solace to bear this difficult time.”
Begum Khaleda Zia died this morning at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
According to a BNP statement on Facebook, Zia died at around 6 am (local time), shortly after Fajr prayers. “Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6:00 am, just after Fajr prayers,” the BNP statement said.
It further said, “We pray for the eternal peace of his soul and urge everyone to pray for his departed soul.”
Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital Dhaka on November 23 due to a lung infection. The former prime minister has long suffered from multiple physical ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis and kidney problems, and earlier this month he was flown to London for advanced medical treatment.
A huge crowd gathered outside the hospital this morning when Begum Zia’s son and acting president of BNP, Tariq Rehman arrived to pay tribute to his late mother.
Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Mohammad Yunus expressed deep condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Begum Khaleda Zia, calling her a “great patron” of the nation and a great figure in the democratic history of Bangladesh.
In a condolence message posted on Twitter, Yunus said he was “deeply saddened and heartbroken” by the demise of the three-time former prime minister, and added that her death is an irreparable loss to the country.
The message said, “Begum Khaleda Zia was not merely a political party leader; she represented an important chapter in the history of Bangladesh.” It further said that his long political struggle and the deep public sentiment associated with his leadership will be remembered with respect.
Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences on the demise of the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In his message, he said that as the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia made significant contributions to the development of the country and India-Bangladesh relations. He further said that his vision and legacy will continue to guide bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister said, “As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her significant contribution to the development of Bangladesh and India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered. I fondly remember meeting her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace.”
