Former minister Khurshid Jahan's 20th death anniversary observed in Dinajpur. Photo: BSS

DINAJPUR, June 14, 2026 (BSS) - The 20th death anniversary of former Minister for Women and Children Affairs, former President of Dinajpur District BNP and elder sister of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Khurshid Jahan Haque was observed in the district on Sunday through various commemorative programmes.

A milad and prayer gathering was organized at Kasba Alamia Madrasa and Orphanage in Pulhat of the district town to mark the occasion.

District BNP President and Zila Parishad administrator Advocate Md. Mofazzal Hossain Dulal attended the programme as the chief guest. District BNP general secretary Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi attended as the special guest.

The programme was chaired by Shahidur Rahman Patwari Mohan, president of Alamia Madrasa and Orphanage, and conducted by its general secretary and the district BNP vice-president Alhaj Md. Mahbub Ahmed.

District BNP senior vice-president Md. Mokarram Hossain, office secretary Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar, publicity secretary Babu Chowdhury, Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nur Nabi, assistant organizing secretary Nazmul Huda Jony, industrialist and vice-president of the Madrasa committee Alhaj Md. Ahsan Habib, vice-president Nur Islam Tushar, treasurer Monowarul Haque Marshal, member Rabiul Alam Babu, and Morshedur Rahman attended the event.

Following the discussion meeting, special prayers were offered for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Khurshid Jahan Haque. Prayers were also offered for Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the late former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, his family members, and all members of the madrasa and orphanage community.

Khurshid Jahan remains a widely respected figure in Dinajpur nearly two decades after her passing. Haque was elected Member of Parliament twice consecutively in the 1996 and 2001 national elections, defeating Awami League leader M. Abdur Rahim.

She is credited with playing a key role in establishing numerous institutions in Dinajpur, including Dinajpur Medical College, the Dinajpur Education Board, Khansama Zia Bridge, the Institute for the Deaf, the Shishu Academy, and the Zia Heart Foundation and Research Institute.

Khurshid Jahan Haque passed away on June 14, 2006, while undergoing treatment for liver cancer at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.