Tarique to lead nation forward following Khaleda Zia’s path: Rizvi
We will move ahead by following the very path she showed us,” Rizvi told reporters after offering fateha at Khaleda Zia’s grave.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today (3 January) said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman would lead the country forward and uphold democracy by following the path shown by his mother, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
"Khaleda Zia left behind ideals, moral values and commitments to the people that represent the highest standard of political ethics. We will move ahead by following the very path she showed us," Rizvi told reporters after offering fateha at Khaleda Zia's grave.
He said Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Begum Khaleda Zia, has taken up the responsibility entrusted to him and will guide the nation towards new possibilities by walking in his mother's footsteps.
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"The flag she handed over will be carried forward. Khaleda Zia endured immense suffering and repression but never allowed the flag of democracy to fall," he said.
Rizvi said the BNP, its affiliated organisations including Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal and the country's nationalist forces would continue to follow the direction set by their late chairperson.
"She remains our source of inspiration. Only by following her path can we uphold democracy, protect national sovereignty and safeguard independence," he said, adding that the party would continue its struggle for the ideals Khaleda Zia upheld for nearly four and a half decades.
Earlier, at around 11:30am, Rizvi, along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal led by its President Afroza Abbas, General Secretary Sultana Ahmed and Senior General Secretary Helen Zerin Khan, visited Khaleda Zia's grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. They placed a wreath and offered munajat, praying for the eternal peace of her departed soul.
Referring to Khaleda Zia's imprisonment, Rizvi alleged that the Awami League government subjected her to oppression through false and politically motivated cases, denied her proper medical treatment and attempted to isolate her from the people.
"The nation has lost a leader who stood firmly for democracy and the people," he said, adding that the massive public turnout at her janaza reflected the depth of public grief.
Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was laid to rest the following day beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan with full state honours.
