Khaleda Zia’s death: BNP holds emergency meet, Yunus announces 3-day mourning

December 30, 2025

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held an emergency meeting on Tuesday following the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The meeting was led by her son and acting BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. The meeting was held at their Gulshan office in Dhaka.

The meeting was attended by several senior leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Nazrul Islam Khan.

Khaleda Zia passed away at Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, on Tuesday morning at the age of 80. She had been hospitalized for the past month due to a prolonged illness.

BNP Mourning Program

The BNP declared a seven-day mourning period following her death. Black flags will be hoisted at party offices, and leaders and workers will wear black badges. Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi shared details of the mourning program.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Khaleda Zia’s funeral will be held in Dhaka on Wednesday. She will be buried next to her husband and former President Ziaur Rahman.

Interim Government Announces Mourning

The interim government of Bangladesh, through Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, announced three days of national mourning and a public holiday on Wednesday. Yunus appealed to citizens to maintain discipline during the mourning period and cooperate with the funeral prayers and all funeral rites.

Khaleda Zia was hospitalized on November 23rd due to serious heart and lung complications and was treated there until the end. She is survived by her eldest son Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman, and granddaughter Zaima Rahman.