BNP announces 7-day mourning as Khaleda Zia passes away
Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am today (30 December) while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
The BNP has announced a seven-day mourning period in grief over the death of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press briefing at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka this morning (30 December).
The seven-day mourning programmes include the hoisting of black flags at party offices, the wearing of black badges by BNP leaders and activists, prayer sessions, and the opening of condolence books at the party's Naya Paltan central office and the party chairperson's Gulshan office.
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Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am today while undergoing treatment at Evercare. She was 79.
BNP Standing Committee meeting
At around 12:30pm, an emergency special meeting of the BNP Standing Committee took place under the chairmanship of the acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia's elder son.
The committee expressed its sincere gratitude for the profound love and affection of the people of the country for Khaleda Zia, who was so deeply connected to the nation's soul, according to a post on the BNP's Facebook page made following the meeting.
It also thanked the interim government for granting Khaleda Zia VIP status, providing comprehensive assistance in her treatment, and declaring state mourning and a general holiday in her honour.
The meeting adopted a condolence resolution in remembrance of Khaleda Zia's dignified and illustrious political life, her extraordinary contributions to establishing and consolidating democracy, and her unparalleled role at every stage of the country's development, the post reads.
"Until her final breath, the country's most respected physicians set an exemplary standard of tireless service, and the meeting acknowledged their contributions with gratitude."
Noting that a government decision has been taken to provide all necessary support to bid farewell to the late national leader with full state honours, the BNP said that as a party as well, it has aligned its programmes in coordination with the decision.
