Dhaka, Dec. 30 -- Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman, whose party was once a key ally of the BNP, has expressed condolences over the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

In a message posted on Facebook, he prayed that Khaleda would be accepted as a "guest of paradise" and asked for strength and patience for her family, associates and supporters.

Jamaat was a political ally of the BNP in several elections, backing the BNP in 1991 and 1996. In 2001, the BNP formed a four-party alliance with Jamaat and two other parties, winning the election and forming the government.

The two parties remained aligned until 2018, after which they followed separate political paths. Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election, Jamaat-e-Islami has...