BNP announces nationwide programmes

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a series of programmes to mark the 81st birth anniversary of former party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, due to be observed today.

In a press release issued on Friday, signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party stated that doa and milad mahfils would be held at party offices and mosques across the country.

In Dhaka, the programme is set to begin at 11am at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, with the participation of senior leaders. A milad mahfil is also scheduled to be held at BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s Gulshan office.

The BNP urged its leaders, activists and members of affiliated organisations to observe the programmes with due respect.

Addressing a press conference at the Nayapaltan party office on Friday, Rizvi said Khaleda Zia had endured much sorrow, pain, oppression and persecution during her political journey. Since entering politics, she had struggled for the country and democracy, he added.

“She was present in various movements and struggles, including the student-people’s uprising. After that, she faced repeated attacks. But Khaleda Zia could not be unsettled in any way, nor could she be deviated from the path of duty. With her head held high like the Himalayan Mountains, she remained steadfast in her commitments,” he said.

This is the first birthday commemoration of Khaleda Zia since her death on 30 December 2025.

Born on 15 August 1945, Khaleda Khanam Putul spent her childhood and adolescence in Dinajpur. She was the third of the five children of Iskandar Majumder and Taiba Majumder. Her family originally hailed from southeastern Feni, but she studied at schools and colleges in Dinajpur.

On 5 August 1960, she married Captain Ziaur Rahman, then a young army officer, at her family home in Mudipara, Dinajpur. After marriage, she adopted the surname “Zia” from her husband and became known as Khaleda Zia.

After President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981, a new chapter began in Khaleda Zia’s life. Responding to the call of party leaders and activists, she joined the BNP as an ordinary member on 2 January 1982.

Khaleda Zia is hailed as an uncompromising leader of Bangladesh’s democracy, who served as the party chairperson from 1984 until her death. She was the first woman to be elected prime minister of Bangladesh and the second female prime minister in the Muslim world.