Desk Report:
Speaker of the National Assembly of Bangladesh Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, MP, said that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has worked diligently to consolidate the country’s democracy. She was very dedicated to establishing the rights of the people of the country. He said that Begum Khaleda Zia will be a unique and timeless example of becoming a successful statesman.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling of the cover of the annual calendar titled ‘Deshnetri’ in memory of the late Begum Khaleda Zia, published by ‘Chobir Golpo’ in the LD Hall of the National Assembly on Friday (May 22, 2026).
The program was chaired by Atiqur Rahman Rumon, Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister and Advisory Editor of Chobir Golpo. Dr. Ahmed Mostafa Noman and the coordinator of Photo Story, Sadman Shakib. The keynote speakers were former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s special assistant and Pabna-5 constituency MP Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Pabna-4 constituency MP Habibur Rahman Habib.
The calendar highlights 12 special aspects of the colorful life of the national leader through the photographs captured by the camera of the Prime Minister’s photographer Khaled Hossain Parag, the founder of ‘Photo Story’, and the writings of the Photo Story team.
At the event, under the theme ‘Photo Story: Patriotism First’, Photo Story displayed a photograph titled ‘Bangladesh’s Life Tarique Rahman’ with students to highlight the truth in response to the widespread false propaganda about Tarique Rahman by the previous neo-democratic government.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said, Begum Khaleda Zia is my political inspiration. She is an integral part of history in the development of Bangladesh’s political leadership. He said, the tears shed by millions of people on the death of Begum Khaleda Zia have proven her as a leader of the people.
The Speaker said, if martyred President Ziaur Rahman had not declared independence on March 26, 1971, there is doubt whether Bangladesh would have been born. Under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman, the people of this country participated in the liberation war and achieved the desired victory. He said, Begum Khaleda Zia inspired Ziaur Rahman to declare independence.
Chief Whip of the National Assembly Md. Nurul Islam Moni, MP said, Begum Khaleda Zia introduced the caretaker government system to give a permanent form to democracy in Bangladesh. Many have returned to Bangladesh but there is no return of the Zia family. He said, I am skeptical whether Bangladesh would have existed without the Zia family. The current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is equivalent to Bangladesh.
The Speaker unveiled the cover of the calendar and expressed his sincere gratitude to the team including the photographer of the film story, Khaled Hossain Parag.
The event was attended by the Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Advocate Dipen Dewan, the State Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Nurul Haque Nur, Arifa Sultana Ruma, Deepika Binte Hossain, women members of parliament from reserved seats of the parliament, members of the film story team, invited guests and media personnel.
