The namaz-e-janaza for the first female Prime Minister and Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Begum Khaleda Zia was held at the southern plaza of the Parliament building, where hundreds of thousands of people were present to bid final farewell to their beloved leader.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the janaza under the bright winter sun at around 3:04 PM on Wednesday. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, interim government advisers, BNP leaders, other political parties' leaders and the chiefs of the three services joined the janaza.
Mourners from all walks of life offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Zia as they burst into tears being emotional with the passage of their beloved leader. The crowd spread to Jahangir Gate, Farmgate, Sobhanbagh areas. While visiting, a massive crowd was found at Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding areas amid cold. After the janaza, the coffin is being taken to Zia Udyan to bury her with full state honours beside her husband Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave.
Amid strong security, the body of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was taken to the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, before her namaz-e-janaza.
Earlier this morning, the BNP Chief's coffin had been taken to Gulshan residence of her elder son and party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from Evercare Hospital for the relatives to pay their last respect. Though her body was initially scheduled to be taken to her residence Firoza, the vehicle was later taken to the residence of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at House No 196 on Gulshan Avenue.
Several foreign dignitaries, including representatives from India, Pakistan and other South and Southeast Asian countries, arrived in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayers. India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar handed over a message of condolence to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday. The condolence message was delivered as a mark of respect following the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, according to a Facebook post of the BNP media cell. S Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to represent the government and people of India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Earlier the Chief Advisor's Office announced the funeral prayers will extend across the inner grounds of the Parliament complex, nearby areas and the full length of Manik Mia Avenue. It also requested the public to avoid using Mirpur Road to ensure the smooth conduct of the funeral.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced seven days of mourning following the death of party chairperson and the country’s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The announcement was made by the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at Evercare Hospital on Tuesday. Black flags would be flown for seven days at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan and at party offices across the country. Leaders and supporters of the party will also wear black badges during the mourning period, he added. Special prayers and Quran recitations will be held at party offices nationwide. Condolence books will also be opened at the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters, the Chairperson’s office in Gulshan and district-level party offices.
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