BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia & BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Photo: BSS Collage

DHAKA, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed deep grief and sorrow at the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, describing the loss as "immense, irreplaceable and irreparable" for the nation.

Speaking at an emergency press conference held this morning at the auditorium of Evercare Hospital, Fakhrul said, "We were hoping this time, just like before, that she would recover again. But you have already heard that the Mother of Democracy, our guardian and the guardian of our nation, has left us. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji'un. This grief, this loss, is immeasurable. The nation will never be able to fully recover from this."

Begum Khaleda Zia, he said, had dedicated her entire life to the rights and welfare of the people. Her passing has created a profound void in the country's political arena, he added.

"The leader who devoted her whole life to the people and democracy is no longer among us," Fakhrul said. "We, her colleagues and political activists, are unable to comprehend this loss. A huge vacuum has been created in the politics of Bangladesh, and not only nationally, but also in the democratic movement across the democratic world."

Fakhrul said that Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunusspoke with him over the phone and conveyed that a special cabinet meeting would be held by today to decide on state funeral and burial with full state honours to Begum Khaleda Zia.

"The cabinet will discuss the arrangements for her burial, interment and the conferment of state honours," he said.

Fakhrul said, "We will announce the subsequent programmes in coordination with the government."

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6:00 am today after a prolonged illness. Her death has cast a deep shadow of grief across the nation and among the international community.

He concluded, "We will announce the subsequent programs in coordination with the government."

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away today at 6am after a prolonged illness. Her death has cast a pall of gloom nationally and internationally.