A civic memorial service will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on December 28 to mark the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
Organised by a civil society group, the event is expected to bring together a wide cross-section of national leadership and public figures. The President, the Prime Minister and members of Begum Khaleda Zia’s family are scheduled to attend alongside prominent politicians, academicians, intellectuals, journalists, professionals and cultural activists.
BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan confirmed the details of the programme on Friday.
As part of the observance, the organisers have taken an initiative to publish a special commemorative volume documenting Begum Khaleda Zia’s life, political philosophy, leadership and contributions to Bangladesh as well as several lesser-known chapters of her public and personal journey.
A committee led by National Professor Mahbub Ullah has invited politicians, writers, researchers, economists, journalists and individuals who worked closely with the late leader to contribute essays and analytical pieces for the publication. Submissions can be emailed to (nagorikshoronshova@gmail.com) by November 30.
Begum Khaleda Zia the Bangladesh’s first female prime minister passed away on December 30, 2025 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She had been hospitalised since November 23, 2025, battling multiple chronic health conditions including liver and kidney complications, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis.
Following her death, the government observed three days of national mourning while the BNP declared a seven-day mourning period.
She also known widely as an "uncompromising leader" for her pivotal role in the 1990 mass uprising against autocracy, Khaleda Zia spent decades at the forefront of street movements and parliamentary politics. Despite facing arrests and imprisonment during her political career, she remained in the country and maintained an unbroken electoral record never losing a parliamentary constituency she contested.
