Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon. File Photo

DHAKA, April 24, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Rizia Khatun, mother of Firoze Ahmed, political advisor to the US Embassy in Bangladesh.

In a condolence message, the minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

Rizia Khatun, also mother of BSS News Editor Ghulam Ahad, passed away due to old-age complications this morning.

She breathed her last at 9am at her residence at Sultanshahi village in Gopalganj Sadar at the age of 90.

Rizia Khatun is survived by five daughters, four sons, a number of grandchildren and a host of relatives and admirers.

Her husband late Darbesh Ali Munshi was director of Gopalganj Central Cooperative Bank and the President of Paikkandi Union BNP and member of Sadar thana unit of BNP.

Among her sons, Firoze Ahmed is serving the US Embassy in Dhaka as the political specialist, Farhad Ahmed is a vice-president of Gopalganj Sadar Thana unit of the ruling BNP and Touhidur Rahman is the executive editor of the Daily Jobabdihi.

Rizia Khatun was laid to her eternal rest at their family graveyard in Gopalganj following her namaj-e-janaza after zumu'ah prayers this afternoon.