BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday paid an emotional tribute to his mother, BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, describing her as a compassionate mother who devoted her entire life to the country and its people.

Begum Khaleda Zia died at around 6am on Tuesday (December 30), while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80.

In a heartfelt post on his verified Facebook page, Tarique Rahman said his mother had answered the call of Almighty Allah and left them, expressing deep grief over her death.

He noted that to many she was known as a resolute national leader, a symbol of democracy and a guiding figure in the country’s democratic journey, whose loss has plunged the nation into mourning.

“For me, Khaleda Zia was a loving mother who sacrificed her entire life for the country and its people,” Tarique Rahman wrote.

He said she fought throughout her life against autocracy, fascism and domination, and led struggles to establish freedom, sovereignty and democracy.

He said that despite a life marked by sacrifice and struggle, she remained the true guardian of her family and a beacon of light whose boundless love gave strength and inspiration even in the most difficult times.

He recalled that she was repeatedly arrested, denied medical treatment and subjected to severe repression, yet continued to instill courage, compassion and patriotism among her family members amid pain, loneliness and uncertainty.

Tarique Rahman also said Khaleda Zia lost her husband and a son for the sake of the country, adding that the nation and its people ultimately became her family, identity and existence.

He said she left behind an unforgettable legacy of public service, sacrifice and struggle that would remain etched in Bangladesh’s democratic history.

At the end of his message, the BNP leader expressed gratitude for the emotions, love and global respect shown by the people of Bangladesh and others around the world, and sought prayers for his mother’s eternal peace.