Barrister Jaima Rahman returned to Bangladesh with her parents just four days ago. On the day of her return, she shared an emotional post on Facebook, expressing her desire to stand beside her grandmother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and to support her father, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. In the post, Jaima reflected on her life abroad, her childhood memories, and her aspirations to serve the country in the future.
However, the senior-most member of the next generation of the Zia family likely never imagined that this responsibility would become a reality so soon. Just five days after her return, three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away.
Doctors at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka declared Khaleda Zia dead at 6:00 am on Tuesday (December 31). With her passing, the Zia family was left without its guardian figure. Tarique Rahman lost his mother 41 years after losing his father, while Jaima Rahman and the children of the late Arafat Rahman Koko—though they never met her personally—lost their beloved “grandmother,” whose presence they knew through stories and memories.
Tarique Rahman Overwhelmed by Grief
After returning to the country, Tarique Rahman had been trying to settle down following a series of receptions by party leaders and previously scheduled programs. But the sudden loss of his mother left him deeply shaken. Balancing personal grief with responsibilities toward his family and party, he appeared unable to express his emotions publicly.
Although he was seen shedding silent tears at his father’s grave after 19 years, Tarique Rahman—who returned home after 17 years of exile—was not seen breaking down in public following his mother’s death. Party leaders believe he is carrying this profound grief quietly.
Jaima Rahman by Her Father’s Side
In this situation, many observers believe that the responsibility of supporting the family and standing beside Tarique Rahman has fallen on Barrister Jaima Rahman as the eldest of the next generation. Although she remained mostly out of the public eye after returning home, the entire grieving family was seen together on the day of Khaleda Zia’s death.
On Wednesday morning, Khaleda Zia’s body, wrapped in the national flag, was taken by ambulance from Evercare Hospital to the family residence in Gulshan. At the farewell, Tarique Rahman was seen seated, reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an, while Jaima Rahman stood silently beside him, her face reflecting deep sorrow.
Video footage showed Jaima speaking briefly with Atiqur Rahman Rumon, convener of “Amra BNP Paribar,” while standing next to her father. The pain of losing her grandmother was clearly visible in her expressions.
Funeral and Burial
From Gulshan, the coffin was taken to the South Plaza of the National Parliament for the funeral prayers. Tarique Rahman arrived at the janaza with family members in a special bus. Jaima Rahman and other female members of the family offered prayers from the designated area.
Those present from the Zia family included Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Jaima Rahman, the widow of the late Arafat Rahman Koko—Syeda Shamila Rahman Sithi—their daughters Jahia Rahman and Jafia Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Shamim Eskandar and his wife Kaniz Fatema, as well as Zubaida Rahman’s sister Shahina Zaman. After the burial, the family offered prayers and departed.
Condolences From Foreign Dignitaries
Foreign dignitaries also met Tarique Rahman to express condolences on the passing of Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister. Throughout the process, Barrister Jaima Rahman remained by her father’s side.
Those who conveyed their sympathies included Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Bhutanese Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel, Maldivian Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Ali Haidar Ahmed, Nepalese Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
Jaima Rahman was seen standing beside her father or sitting with him during meetings, exchanging greetings and participating in discussions with the guests.
A New Chapter of Responsibility
Political analysts note that due to prolonged illness, it was widely assumed that Begum Khaleda Zia would no longer be active in politics. Following her death, however, full responsibility has now fallen on Tarique Rahman. Many believe that Jaima Rahman will gradually take on a more visible and active role in supporting her father.
Jaima Rahman’s Emotional Facebook Post
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday (December 23), a day before returning to Bangladesh, Jaima Rahman wrote:
“After many years, I am returning home. Coming back is a unique blend of emotions and feelings. Inshallah, after returning, I want to stand beside my ‘grandmother.’ During this time, I want to support my father in every possible way. As a responsible citizen, I want to contribute my utmost for the country.”
She also wrote that although she never met her grandmother in person, she grew up hearing stories of her honesty and patriotism. Recalling childhood memories, Jaima described how Khaleda Zia, despite being a stateswoman, was a caring and affectionate guardian within the family.
Today, those memories resonate deeply amid grief—where personal loss and political reality intertwine, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Zia family.