A civic memorial meeting will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka on December 28 to mark the first death anniversary of former prime minister and former BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

A commemorative book highlighting her life, political ideals, leadership and contributions to national life will be published on the occasion. A documentary on her life and political career will also be produced.

Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah announced the initiative on behalf of members of civil society in a press release issued on Friday (November 13).

The organisers hope that the President, the Prime Minister and members of Khaleda Zia’s family will attend the memorial meeting. Prominent politicians, academics, intellectuals, journalists, professionals and cultural figures from different sectors are also expected to participate.

To make the event more meaningful, the organisers have taken the initiative to publish a commemorative volume featuring her life, political philosophy, professional experiences, personality, leadership and contributions to the country and its people. The publication will also seek to highlight lesser-known chapters of her life.

Politicians, journalists, writers, researchers, academics, economists, professionals and people who worked closely with Khaleda Zia have been invited to submit original and analytical articles for the book.

The proposed topics include her life, personality and leadership; role in democratic politics and movements; foreign policy, national sovereignty and patriotism; women's education, women's leadership and social development; parliamentary politics; and economic philosophy and policies for building a self-reliant Bangladesh.

Contributions may also cover elections, democracy and political struggles, press freedom, personal recollections, lesser-known aspects of her life, government and bureaucracy, good governance, experiences in public office and events from the final period of her life. Her personality, aesthetic sensibilities and sense of self-respect will also receive attention.

In addition, a documentary featuring detailed information about Khaleda Zia’s long political career, struggles, leadership, achievements and contributions to national life is being planned.