Khaleda Zia became a leader of people and country: Nurul Kabir

Editor of English daily New Age and president of the Editors’ Council, Nurul Kabir, has said Khaleda Zia was not just a party leader but truly became a leader of the people and the country. He said the participation of hundreds of thousands of people in her funeral prayer, regardless of political affiliation, proved this.

He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a civic condolence meeting organised in memory of BNP chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The event was held at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Manik Mia Avenue, with the programme ending around 5:30 pm.

Nurul Kabir said the quality that impressed him most about Khaleda Zia as a person and politician was her sense of restraint and dignity. Despite long-standing coarseness in political culture and facing attacks and suffering from political opponents, she never publicly expressed anger, grief or abusive remarks. He said such restraint and self-respect are extremely important in today’s intolerant political climate in Bangladesh.

Referring to Khaleda Zia’s funeral, he recalled that a BNP leader standing before the huge crowd had pledged to run party politics in line with her democratic ideals, and he urged that this promise be honoured.

Among those present were BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and Shamila Rahman, wife of Khaleda Zia’s late younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. Special assistant to the chief adviser Professor Ali Riaz and other distinguished figures were also present.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Mirza Abbas, Selima Rahman, Salahuddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain were also in attendance.

The condolence meeting began after 2:30 pm with recitation from the Quran and ended with prayers seeking forgiveness for Khaleda Zia’s soul.