People from all walks of life on Tuesday paid rich tributes to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, saying her death has caused an irreparable loss to the nation that marked the end of a glorious era in Bangladesh’s multi-party democratic politics.
Reacting to her demise, expatriate Bangladeshi Md Sheikh Farid told BSS in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan in the capital said that Khaleda Zia’s death has closed “an important chapter in the country’s political history”.
He said that throughout her long political career she led the nation through many challenges and crises, and her position and influence in Bangladesh’s multi-party politics are undeniable.
Businessman Shahidul Islam Russell recalled that Khaleda Zia was a top leader of the united democratic movement and the 1990 mass upsurge against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad, describing her as a key and influential figure in democratic politics.
Private sector employee Md Momin Hossain Shipon said the country is now badly needed Khaleda Zia’s leadership at the present critical time.
He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to her bereaved family members.
Passerby Amjad Hossain described her as an honest, fair and hardworking head of government who worked extensively for the poor and common people.
Rickshaw puller Abdul Aziz said that during her tenure the country witnessed development, people felt safer, and terrorist activities were fewer.
He prayed for her eternal peace of the departed soul.
Ordinary citizens were also seen overwhelmed with grief and heartache.
Sheuli Begum of Mirpur’s Monipuri Para told BSS in tears said that after hearing the death news of Khaleda Zia at work she rushed to home and then went to Zia Udyan.
She said Khaleda Zia was like a mother to millions and lamented that Tarique Rahman had lost his last remaining parent.
“Today, not only BNP, but all of us have lost a loved one,” she said.
Retired government official Saiful Haque Khan said the entire nation is now saddened at the demise of Khaleda Zia .
He noted that after the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s leadership, wisdom and determination were unique in Bangladesh’s political history.
Calling her an uncompromising leader, he said her guidance was crucial in the current political reality and ahead of upcoming elections, and expressed hope that the country would move forward on the democratic path under the leadership of her son, Tarique Rahman.
Khaleda Zia’s former personal staff member Md Humayun Patwary said she symbolized the uncompromising democratic movement.
As the wife of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, she never compromised with tyranny, boycotted the 1986 polls, led the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 from the streets, and remained firm despite repression, injuries and shootings of activists.
