BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the death of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has created a huge void in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
“I never imagined I would have to come forward with such news,” Mirza Fakhrul said. “We were once again hopeful that she would recover, as she had before.”
He made the remarks while briefing reporters at Evercare Hospital in the capital on Tuesday morning.
“Our mother of democracy left us at 6:00am today,” he said. “This loss is irreparable for the nation. We cannot accept that a leader who dedicated her entire life to democracy is no more. A profound vacuum has been created in Bangladeshi politics.”
Mirza Fakhrul added that Interim premier Dr. Muhammad Yunus contacted him shortly after receiving the news. “He called me immediately,” he said.
A cabinet meeting was scheduled for 10:00am to discuss arrangements for Khaleda Zia’s funeral and the possibility of state honours. Details of the programmes will be announced later.
Senior BNP leaders including Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel, Dr. Shahabuddin Talukder, and Khaleda Zia’s personal physicians were also present at the hospital.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
