BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman-File Photo

DHAKA, Jan 01, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has expressed gratitude to the millions of Bangladeshi people, foreign dignitaries, and well-wishers who came together to mourn and pay their respects following the passing of his mother, three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

In a poignant statement issued on social media after laying his mother to rest beside his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Tarique Rahman described the weight of his mother's absence as "immeasurable" but said the nation's presence made the moment "feel less alone."

"Seeing you all here, standing with our family through these most difficult hours, reminded me of something very precious: that she was not only a mother to me, but in many ways a mother of this nation," the statement read.

Tarique Rahman expressed that he was "deeply moved by the outpouring of love from so many friends, neighbours, well-wishers, and families who came in their millions to honour her life and legacy."

He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to the senior dignitaries of countries from the South Asian region who attended personally, as well as to those countries, diplomats, and partners who shared their condolences with the family and the party, noting that their gestures of deep respect and sympathy "have touched our hearts profoundly."

In his moment of grief, the BNP Acting Chairman reflected on his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and his late brother, Arafat Rahman. He found comfort in the national support, saying, "Today, at a time of greatest sorrow, I feel like this whole nation is my family."

He concluded his message by vowing to honour his mother's legacy of service, "My mother devoted her life to serving others, day after day, with relentless dedication... I feel the weight of that legacy, and I promise to honour it with humility and commitment. Where her journey paused, I will strive to continue her work to the people whose faith and love sustained her until her last breath."

"May Allah grant her eternal peace, and may we find strength in the devotion she shared with us all," he added.