Tarique seeks prayers for mother at janaza

Staff Reporter :

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has appealed to the nation to pray for the eternal peace of his mother, former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, during her namaz-e-janaza held at the National Parliament grounds in Dhaka.

Addressing mourners at the funeral prayer on Wednesday afternoon, Tarique urged people from all walks of life to seek divine mercy for Khaleda Zia so that she may be granted a place in Jannatul Ferdous.

He also asked forgiveness on her behalf for any unintentional mistakes she may have made over the course of her long and eventful political career. “As a human being, if my mother committed any errors unknowingly, I ask everyone to forgive her,” he said.

Introducing himself as her eldest son, Tarique further said, “If my mother left behind any outstanding debts, I request that those concerned inform me,” reaffirming his family’s responsibility to settle any such obligations.
The janaza drew a massive gathering, with thousands of mourners paying their final respects to the three-time former prime minister.

Among those in attendance were senior political leaders, diplomats and foreign dignitaries, as well as civilian and military officials, alongside ordinary citizens from across the country.

Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6am on Tuesday (30 December) at the age of 79. A towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history, she served as prime minister three times and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for decades.

Following the funeral prayer, she is scheduled to be laid to rest beside the grave of her late husband, former president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.