Tarique Rahman Says Bangladesh Is Now His Family

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has shared an emotional and reflective message in remembrance of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, while expressing profound gratitude to the people of Bangladesh for their overwhelming compassion and solidarity during a time of personal loss. In a deeply moving statement, he remarked that, in his grief, he has come to feel that “the whole of Bangladesh has become my family”.

Tarique Rahman conveyed these sentiments in an emotional post published on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, 1 January. The message blends personal sorrow with public appreciation, revealing both the pain of a bereaved son and the sense of responsibility felt by a political leader shaped by a legacy of national service.

In his post, Tarique Rahman wrote that, with a heart full of sorrow and gratitude, he laid his beloved mother—his first teacher in life and a three-time Prime Minister—Begum Khaleda Zia, to rest beside his father, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. He described the void left by her passing as beyond the capacity of words to express. Yet, he noted that the extraordinary presence and support of the people of the country ensured that he did not feel alone in this most difficult moment.

He said he was deeply moved by the love and respect shown by countless party leaders and activists, well-wishers, family members, and citizens from all walks of life. The sheer number of people who gathered to pay their respects, standing by the family in grief, reinforced for him a powerful truth: Begum Khaleda Zia was not only his mother, but, in many ways, a maternal figure to the nation itself.

Tarique Rahman also expressed heartfelt thanks to senior representatives from various South Asian countries, as well as international diplomats and development partners, who attended in person to pay their respects. He extended his sincere gratitude to all nations and organisations that sent messages of condolence, stating that such gestures of empathy had touched their hearts deeply.

Reflecting further, he remembered his father, President Ziaur Rahman, and his late brother Arafat Rahman Koko, noting that their memories weighed heavily on him during this time of mourning. Surrounded by such widespread affection and solidarity, he wrote, the pain of personal loss seemed to transcend into a collective bond, making the entire nation feel like an extended family.

He emphasised that his mother devoted her entire life to the service of the people. Today, he said, he feels the weight of that responsibility and legacy more deeply than ever before. With sincerity and commitment, 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, Tarique Rahman prayed for the eternal peace of his mother’s soul and expressed hope that the values she embodied—love, sacrifice, generosity, unity, and patriotism—would remain a lasting source of strength and inspiration for the nation.

Key Highlights at a Glance :

This message stands not only as a personal tribute, but also as a reaffirmation of Tarique Rahman’s emotional bond with the nation and his commitment to carrying forward a political and moral legacy rooted in public service.