Jahangirnagar university: The Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of the Nationalist Teachers, Officers, and Employees Forum today held a black badge-wearing programme to mourn the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, about one hundred teachers, officers, and employees gathered at the university’s Shaheed Minar premises around 11:30 am, donning black badges to honor the late leader. The gathering was part of a series of mourning activities organized by the forum.
During the event, JU Nationalist Teachers’ Forum President Professor Md Shamsul Alam highlighted Khaleda Zia’s commitment to democracy, describing her as a leader who endured oppression for over 16 years without harboring resentment. He noted her deep love for Bangladesh, emphasizing that she never considered leaving the country despite being forced out of her home and imprisoned multiple times.
JU Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. M Mahfuzur Rahman expressed solidarity with the programme, sharing that the university community was deeply saddened by her passing. He acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s significant contributions as a three-time Prime Minister, stating that the university had suspended all classes and examinations in her honor and observed mourning by wearing black badges.
Speakers at the event remarked that Khaleda Zia was not just a leader of a political party but a guardian of the nation, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding democracy. The programme was moderated by JU Nationalist Teachers’ Forum General Secretary Prof Md Jamal Uddin, with several university officials, including Treasurer Professor Dr. M Abdur Rab, Proctor Professor Dr. AKM Rashidul Alam, and Prof Mafruhi Sattar, in attendance.
Earlier in the day, it was announced that Begum Khaleda Zia had passed away at 6:00 am while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital.