Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam and former BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - The 11th death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam and former BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, was observed with due respect today.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman paid tribute at the grave of his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko by placing a wreath at his grave at the Banani graveyard in the capital this afternoon.

Tarique Rahman was accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, Koko's wife Shamila Rahman and other family members.

Later, a prayer programme was held at the BNP Chairman's political office in Gulshan after Asr prayers, with Tarique Rahman and senior party leaders in attendance.

Earlier in the morning, BNP leaders and activists paid tributes to Arafat Rahman Koko by placing wreaths at his grave and offered fateha.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, along with central and city units' leaders, paid homage at the grave. 

Various programmes including Khatam-e-Quran were organised at Banani Graveyard from the morning. 

Milad and Doa Mahfils were also held at BNP's central office at Naya Paltan here.

Our Bogura Correspondent reports: A doa mahfil was organised in the district by the family at Baitur Rahman Central Mosque after Asr prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Arafat Rahman Koko.

Former Bogura Mayor and BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Advocate Mahabubur Rahman attended the programme along with senior leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated bodies of local units.

After the mahfil, food was distributed among the people.

Similar programmes were also arranged in different districts.

Born on August 12, 1969, Arafat Rahman Koko served as a member of the Bangladesh Cricket Board advisory council from 2003 to 2005 and was also chairman of the Old DOHS Club.

During the caretaker government period following one-eleven, Koko was arrested on September 3, 2007 along with his mother Begum Khaleda Zia from their residence on Mainul Road inside Dhaka Cantonment. 

He was released on bail on July 17, 2008. Later, he went to Thailand for medical treatment. From there, he moved to Malaysia where he stayed until his death.

On January 24 in 2015, he died of cardiac arrest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

His body was brought back to Bangladesh two days later. 

Following a massive namaz-e-janaza attended by a large number of mourners on January 27, he was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard.