ICC Bangladesh, jointly with 17 National Trade Organizations arranged a Memorial and Doa Mehfil for Late Begum Khaleda Zia, Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka on 5 January 2026. Begum Khaleda Zia died on 30 December in a Dhaka hospital after prolonged illness. 2 January-March 2026 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, diplomats, business leaders, civil society members, senior bankers and over 700 guests attended the Memorial and offeredprayers for Begum Khaleda Zia.

ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman Chaired and moderated the Memorial discussion. In his opening statement he said Begum Khaleda Zia’s life was defined by strong leadership, resilience and a deep commitment to democratic values. She was a homemaker and entered into politics after the tragic assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman in 1981. At a time of great political uncertainty, she stepped forward to serve the nation with courage and determination. Through her leadership, she played a key role in the movement that restored parliamentary democracy in 1991-- a milestone that reshaped Bangladesh’s political landscape. In that 1991 historic election, she led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to victory and became Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and one of the earliest elected woman heads of government in the Muslim world. Her premierships, from 1991–1996 and 2001–2006, broke barriers for women in leadership and inspired generations across Bangladesh and beyond.

ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman (extreme right) moderates the memorial and doa mehfil. Also seen (right to left) are BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, along with other invitees.