DHAKA, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) - The house on Shaheed Mainul Road in Dhaka Cantonment was once the primary residence of Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. It was where Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman lived as Army Chief and later as President; after his death, it became Begum Khaleda’s sole address. 

However, following the 1/11 political change and the subsequent rise of Awami League to power, she was evicted and since then, Khaleda Zia’s residence was ‘Firoza’ in Gulshan.

In 2018, it was from this house that Khaleda Zia headed to the Old Dhaka court to hear the verdict in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, which led to her imprisonment. Later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to ‘Firoza’ from the hospital after the government granted her a conditional temporary release.

Today, security guards still stand watch over the house, and the sentry posts remain as they were, but an air of profound stillness hangs over the premises.

BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan remarked, “Many memories of the BNP Chairperson are etched into this house. Those closely associated with this home are overwhelmed with emotion. Some have served for over 40 years, starting from the Cantonment residence of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. I feel a sense of loss that I cannot put into words; it feels as if 'Madam' is still living here among us.”

A member of the Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF) shared his grief, saying, “I used to be on duty for Madam. Today, she is gone, and the whole house feels empty. When I step inside, a haunting silence and a sense of void ring in my ears. I have no words for this pain. I only pray that Allah keeps her well in the afterlife.”

Adjacent to ‘Firoza’ is House No. 196, which was allocated to Ziaur Rahman's family in 1981 by the then-Acting President Justice Abdus Sattar. A few months ago, Adilur Rahman Khan, the Public Works Adviser of the current interim government, handed over the original deeds and documents of this house to Khaleda Zia. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has since taken up residence there.

Outside his residence, the atmosphere is equally somber. Due to its location in the Gulshan Avenue diplomatic zone, large gatherings are restricted.

Overwhelmed by the loss of his mother, Tarique Rahman spent Thursday in prayer and recitation of the Holy Quran. Atiqur Rahman Rumon of the BNP Media Cell stated that the Acting Chairman spent the day seeking eternal peace for his mother's soul. While relatives visited to offer condolences, Tarique Rahman shared nostalgic memories of his mother, becoming visibly emotional. At 4:30 PM, he left for the Chairperson's office in Gulshan to attend to official matters.

At the Gulshan office, the black flag flies alongside the BNP and national flags, which are at half-mast. A condolence book has been opened, where foreign ambassadors and politicians are arriving to pay their respects. Among the visitors on Thursday were Social Welfare Adviser Sharmin S. Murshid, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson, Iranian Ambassador Mansour Chavoshi, Peer of Sarsina Darbar Sharif Maulana Mufti Shah Abu Naser Neshar Uddin Ahmed, and Secretary General of the Jatiya Party Shamim Haider Patwary.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's namaz-e-janaza was held yesterday at approximately 3pm, led by the Imam of the National Mosque, Baitul Mukarram, Mufti Abdul Malek. Later, at around 4:45 PM, she was laid to rest with full state honours beside the grave of her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, in the Zia Udyan area of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday (December 30) at 6am while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.