Members of the Bangladesh Christian Association, Khagrachari district, hold a special prayer at Believers Church in Milanpur on the final day of state mourning for Khaleda Zia. (Photo: Collected | The Times of Jumland)
Khagrachari | Friday, January 2, 2026
A special prayer meeting was held in Khagrachari on Friday, the final day of the three-day state mourning declared by Bangladesh following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The prayer was organised by the Bangladesh Christian Association, Khagrachari district unit, at Believers Church in the Milanpur area of Khagrachari town.
Church leaders said the programme was held after receiving an official notice from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Khagrachari, which asked government offices, NGOs, churches, and other organisations to observe the state-declared mourning. Local officials confirmed that the observance followed the nationwide government directive.
During the prayer session, participants prayed for the departed soul of Khaleda Zia and expressed condolences to her family. Prayers were also offered for peace, forgiveness, national unity, and stability in the country.
The prayer meeting was presided over by Nila Pada Chakma, a senior Indigenous Christian leader in Khagrachari. Members of different churches, along with community leaders, women, and children, attended the programme.
Speakers said that Indigenous Christian communities, as citizens of Bangladesh, also share in moments of national sorrow. They noted that prayer is a peaceful way to show respect and sympathy during times of public loss, regardless of political differences.
Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice, for full terms, and also held the office briefly in 1996. She remained one of the country’s most influential political figures for several decades.
The government declared three days of ‘State Mourning’ from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2026. During this period, national flags were flown at half-mast and mourning programmes were held across the country. Friday marked the last day of the official mourning.
Observers said the prayer meeting reflected the participation of minority religious communities in national life and their respect for state decisions during shared moments of public grief.
By The Times of Jumland | Khagrachari Desk
Reporting by Jumland Khagrachari Main Reporter
