On Tuesday at 2pm in Sylhet, with Bangladesh observing a period of state mourning, the country’s cricket fraternity came together at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium to offer a ghaibana janaza for former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, in a rare moment of collective pause for the sport.
The funeral prayer in absentia was organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and held simultaneously with the main janaza at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building in Dhaka. While hundreds of thousands gathered in the capital, Sylhet became the focal point for cricket’s tribute, drawing players, officials and media from across the country.
Cricketers and administrators based in Sylhet, Dhaka and Rajshahi attended, joined by match officials, support staff and journalists covering the domestic season. Several overseas players currently involved in Bangladesh’s leagues were also present, standing alongside local players in a show of respect that crossed teams and nationalities.
Senior figures of Bangladesh cricket led the gathering, including Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasir Hossain, BCB president Faruque Ahmed Bulbul, former national captain Habibul Bashar and former wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud Pilot. Training sessions and routine activities at the venue were halted as the stadium fell silent for the prayer.
The janaza followed the BCB’s decision to suspend the two Bangladesh Premier League matches scheduled for 30 December, a mark of respect during the national mourning period following Khaleda Zia’s death. The three-time former prime minister and BNP chairperson was a central figure in Bangladesh’s political life for decades.
In a statement issued earlier, the BCB said it was “deeply saddened” by her passing and recalled her contribution to the growth of the game during her time in office, particularly her support for infrastructure development and the expansion of cricket nationwide.
At Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, the presence of players, officials and foreign professionals in a single congregation reflected how deeply cricket remains intertwined with the country’s public life. For one afternoon, competition gave way entirely to remembrance.
