Civic Memorial for Khaleda Zia Held at Parliament’s South Plaza with Dignitaries in Attendance

A grand civic memorial service was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Friday (January 16) to honor the late former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The event, which began at 3:05 PM following the arrival of Tarique Rahman, saw a large gathering of invited guests, including family members, senior political leaders, and foreign diplomats.

Tarique Rahman was joined by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and sister-in-law Sharmila Rahman. Saleh Uddin, Executive Editor of Daily Ittefaq, presented the memorial citation. In a departure from traditional political gatherings, no politicians spoke from the stage. Instead, the floor was given to eminent citizens, researchers, educators, and representatives from various religious and ethnic communities to reflect on her legacy.

The area was under strict surveillance, with a multi-tier security apparatus involving the Army, Police, RAB, BGB, and Ansar. Access was strictly limited to those with official invitation cards. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30 while undergoing treatment and was laid to rest at Zia Uddan with state honors the following day.