Hamin Ahmed shares untold memory with Khaleda Zia

Hamin Ahmed, a founding member of the legendary band Miles, recently shared a personal memory on Facebook—one he had never spoken of before.

Recalling an incident from around 1993–94, Hamin wrote that Miles had been invited to perform at the residence of the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, at 6 Shaheed Mainul Road inside the cantonment.

"Never mentioned before, but sharing this now. At the time, Miles consisted of myself, Shafin, Manam and possibly Mahbub," he wrote. "Knowing that the Prime Minister herself would be present to hear us perform, we were excited and curious, and also quite nervous."

Tarique Rahman and his friends were present that day, and Hamin noted that they made the band feel at ease from the very beginning. Accompanied by Shafin Ahmed and their brother Shafique, the band arrived at the residence, where Hamin saw Begum Khaleda Zia in person for the first time.

"She was extremely elegant, dignified, and carried herself with great personality," he recalled. "Yet she greeted us with such kindness and grace that we were all truly awestruck."

The band carried out their soundcheck until around 2:00–2:30 in the afternoon, which coincided with lunchtime. Naturally, friends and relatives of the Zia family suggested taking the musicians elsewhere nearby for lunch. But Begum Khaleda Zia intervened.

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"To our surprise, she firmly said, 'No, they will have lunch in this house—whatever we eat, they will eat,'" Hamin wrote.

The moment left a lasting impression. As they sat at the dining table, the band members were stunned when the Prime Minister herself began serving food onto their plates.

"I remember sitting there, looking at my plate and wondering if this was really happening," Hamin wrote. "At that moment, I felt a profound sense of respect for her. Here was the Prime Minister of our country—so gracious, so kind, and so respectful. She did not have to do any of that, but she did. That is why she was, and will always remain, Begum Khaleda Zia in our hearts—in people's hearts."

Later that evening, the band performed in the garden while Begum Khaleda Zia watched from a netted enclosure overlooking the venue. After the performance, she complimented them on their songs. Hamin noted that the experience left an emotional impression on both him and Shafin Ahmed, strengthening the respect their family, including their mother, held for her over the years.

That respect, he wrote, was reinforced many years later, following the death of their mother, the legendary Nazrul Sangeet exponent Firoza Begum, on September 9 in 2014.

"Other than the cultural affairs minister of the Awami League government and a few senior politicians who went to the Shaheed Minar, no one else came to our home to pay their respects to an artiste who devoted her entire life to upholding and elevating the songs of the National Poet," Hamin wrote. "The then Prime Minister chose to send a message through the media. There was no state-honoured janaza or burial for my mother." Yet one person, he said, did not hesitate—despite illness and physical hardship.

"Begum Khaleda Zia came to my mother's residence at Kalindi," he wrote. "She sat with us, spoke lovingly of my mother and her memories, and comforted us as though she were one of our own. She showed immense respect and affection for Firoza Begum."

Hamin described her as "an amazing, graceful, and kind-hearted person" who will live on in his fondest memories with the highest respect.

He ended the post by noting a poignant coincidence: Begum Khaleda Zia spent the final days of her life in a house named "Firoza".He concluded his post with a prayer, "May Allah grant her Jannah."