The Whole of Bangladesh Has Become My Family :Says Tarique Rahman

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has shared an emotionally resonant message of remembrance, gratitude, and resolve as he reflected on the passing of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. In a deeply personal statement, he expressed heartfelt thanks to the people of Bangladesh, saying that their overwhelming compassion had transformed his private grief into a shared national bond.

On Thursday, 1 January, Mr Rahman published the message on his verified Facebook page, where he articulated his feelings in a tone marked by solemnity and humility. The post quickly drew widespread attention for its emotional depth and its reflection on the enduring relationship between public leadership and personal loss.

Remembering a mother and a national figure

In his message, Tarique Rahman wrote that he laid his beloved mother—whom he described as his first teacher in life and a three-time Prime Minister—to rest beside his father, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. He acknowledged that the void left by her absence is beyond the reach of words. Yet, he noted that the extraordinary presence and solidarity of the people during this difficult time prevented him from feeling alone in his grief.

He said he was profoundly moved by the love and respect shown by countless party leaders, supporters, well-wishers, and ordinary citizens. The way millions of people came together to honour Begum Khaleda Zia, he observed, reaffirmed a powerful truth: she was not only a mother to him, but in many respects a maternal figure to the nation itself.

International solidarity and shared sorrow

Mr Rahman also expressed sincere appreciation to senior representatives from South Asian countries, international diplomats, and development partners who attended in person to pay their respects. He extended heartfelt thanks to the countries that conveyed official messages of condolence, stating that their gestures of empathy had touched his family deeply.

In recalling the broader context of loss, he remembered his father, President Ziaur Rahman, and his younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, during this moment of mourning. He reflected that the immense outpouring of love from across the country had helped him transcend personal sorrow, leading him to feel that “the whole of Bangladesh has become my family”.

A pledge to carry forward a legacy

Tarique Rahman emphasised that his mother dedicated her life to serving the people with tireless commitment. He said he now feels the weight of that responsibility and legacy more keenly than ever. With focus and accountability, he pledged to continue the journey where his mother’s path had ended, striving to serve those whose love and trust sustained her until her final breath.

Concluding his message, the BNP Acting Chairman prayed for eternal peace for his mother’s soul and expressed hope that the values she embodied—love, sacrifice, generosity, unity, and patriotism—would remain a source of strength for the nation.

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