Hasina can’t evade responsibility for Khaleda Zia’s death: Nazrul

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan today said that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina would never be able to evade responsibility for the death of BNP chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

"On February 8, 2018, Khaleda Zia walked into jail after being subjected to the personal vengeance of fascist Hasina. But she came out of prison seriously ill," he said while speaking at Manik Mia Avenue shortly before Khaleda Zia's namaz-e-janaza.

Nazrul said Khaleda's prolonged imprisonment, denial of proper medical treatment and restrictions on treatment abroad had severely damaged her health and ultimately led to her death.

"According to doctors at home and abroad, her illness worsened because she was denied the opportunity to receive treatment overseas during four years of house arrest. As a result, the uncompromising leader eventually succumbed to death. Fascist Hasina will never be free of responsibility for this death," he said.

Khaleda's body was taken to a temporary stage set up at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad around 2:45pm for her janaza.

Later, Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief life sketch of Khaleda Zia on behalf of the party.

He explained the circumstances that led her to enter politics and highlighted her long struggle for democracy, her unwavering commitment to democratic values and her deep patriotism.

The BNP leader also recalled her contributions to the country and urged everyone to pray for her departed soul.

Nazrul said Khaleda Zia never bowed before any domestic or foreign force, nor did she compromise on democracy, freedom of expression or voting rights, despite facing repeated repression.

"She was jailed during the rule of autocrat Hussein Muhammad Ershad, during the so-called 1/11 regime and again under Sheikh Hasina," he said.

The BNP leader said Khaleda was evicted from her home linked to the memory of her martyred husband, late president Ziaur Rahman, and sentenced to 17 years in prison on what he described as false charges.

"Yet she never compromised with authoritarian politics. This is why she became an enduring inspiration in the struggle against fascism," Nazrul said.

"Those who sent her to jail and made her homeless could not live in peace and were forced to flee," he said referring to Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in a mass uprising on August 5, 2024, and forced to seek refuge in India.

Nazrul said Khaleda joined BNP on January 3, 1982, to keep the morale of party leaders and activists intact after the assassination of Ziaur Rahman in 1981.

Despite being the party founder's wife, Nazrul said Khaleda Zia rose through its ranks constitutionally, first as a primary member, then vice-chairperson, acting chairperson and later elected chairperson through the party council.

Of her 43-year political life, he said, she led BNP for 41 years as its top leader, strengthening and organising the party.

Nazrul said Khaleda Zia led a continuous nine-year movement against Ershad's military rule and restored democracy through a free, fair and neutral election in 1991.

"She was the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh and the second in the Muslim world," he said.

Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday at Evercare Hospital at the age of 79 after suffering from multiple critical health complications.