BNP leaders and activists, many of them with tears in their eyes, offered prayers at the grave of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday after Jum'a prayers.

More than a thousand BNP leaders and activists from different parts of the capital gathered at the grave under the leadership of BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas to offer fateha.

They also offered munajat, praying for the salvation of the departed soul of their beloved leader and seeking that Allah grant her the highest place in Jannah. Many were seen weeping during the prayers.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mirza Abbas said they came to pray for their leader. “We have come to pray for Madam. May Allah grant her a place in Jannah,” he said.

He said it was difficult to accept her death, adding that while people usually accept natural deaths, this loss was particularly painful because of the suffering she endured.

“It is painful to accept this death because she was subjected to oppression and injustice and was denied proper medical treatment. I may not say everything here, but she was treated in such a way in prison that it became difficult for her to survive,” Abbas alleged.

He said Khaleda Zia bore all the suffering while thinking of the people of the country and the nation.

“The pain she went through was unbearable, yet she endured everything for the people of this country,” the BNP leader said.

He also said that through her struggle and sacrifices, democracy has moved forward in Bangladesh.

“Today, Bangladesh stands at the doorstep of democracy. The greatest sorrow is that she could not live to see that democracy herself,” Abbas said.

Mentioning that Khaleda Zia established herself in politics through her own efforts, he said her passing in such a manner was deeply painful for him.

Later, leaders and activists of the Muktijoddha Dal and Muktijoddha Projonmo Dal visited the grave.

They offered fateha and prayed for the departed souls of Begum Khaleda Zia and BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

The leaders and activists stood beside the graves, recited verses from the Holy Quran and offered munajat, seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for the departed leaders.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders, activists and ordinary people visited the grave of Khaleda Zia throughout the day to pay their respects and offer prayers.

From Friday morning, people gathered in groups, placing flowers, offering fateha and reciting prayers beside her grave.

In the morning, family members, including her granddaughter Zaima Rahman, visited the grave to offer prayers.

Due to their visit, entry for party leaders, activists and the general public was temporarily suspended from 10:00am to 10:50am. After the family members left, people again entered the area in groups to pay their respects.

After 11:30am, BNP Advisory Council member Amanullah Aman visited the grave and offered prayers. Speaking to reporters, he described Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader and a symbol of democracy, expressing hope that her political ideals would be carried forward.

Later, BNP-nominated candidate for the Dhaka-14 constituency, Sanjida Islam Tuli, also paid tribute by placing flowers and offering prayers.

She said Khaleda Zia was not only a leader of BNP but a leader of the people of Bangladesh, recalling the huge public response at her funeral.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations visited the grave throughout the day to offer prayers.
Khaleda Zia passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on December 30 while undergoing treatment.

She was buried the following day beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan with full state honours.

Following her death, BNP has been observing a seven-day mourning programme.

As part of the programme, party offices across the country are keeping party flags at half-mast and hoisting black flags.

On Friday, milad and doa mahfils were held after Juma prayers at mosques across the country, including the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, seeking forgiveness for the departed leader.

Later in the afternoon, BNP also arranged a milad and doa mahfil after Asr prayers at Gulshan Central Mosque (Azad Mosque) in the capital.