The namaz-e-janaza of former prime minister Khaleda Zia has concluded at the Jatiya Sangsad premises in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
The funeral prayer was conducted by Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, at 3:04pm.
Sea of mourners have gathered at the venue, joined the funeral and paid their last respects to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also Bangladesh’s first female prime minister.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury also attended the BNP chairperson’s janaza. The chiefs of the armed forces — Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan also attended the funeral prayers.
Foreign leaders from the neighbouring countries also attended the Khaleda Zia’s funeral. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shri Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lankan foreign minister Vijitha Herath, and Bhutan’s Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Lyonpo DN Dhungyel arrived in Dhaka on special flights.
Around 11:30am, Khaleda Zia’s body was taken to Manik Mia Avenue from her son Tarique Rahman’s Gulshan residence.
A mortuary van carrying the body of Khaleda Zia was surrounded by members of the law enforcement agencies, and security was tightened along the roads. The vehicle, draped in the red-and-green national flag, entered the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad complex around 11:45am.
From the very beginning of the day, wearing black attire and badges and carrying flags, BNP leaders, activists, as well as supporters gathered at the venue to attend the janaza.
Around 9am, the vehicle carrying her body left the morgue of Evercare Hospital for Gulshan. It was then taken to her son Tarique Rahman’s residence at House No. 196 on Gulshan Avenue. However, her body was initially scheduled to be taken to her Gulshan residence, Firoza, but was later taken to Tarique’s residence.
Family members and relatives paid their last respects to her ahead of the namaz-e-janaza. From there, around 11:15am, the body was taken towards Manik Mia Avenue in the vehicle surrounded by law enforcement personnel.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said the vehicle carrying Khaleda Zia’s body would leave Evercare Hospital and travel via the 36 July Expressway, Kuril Flyover, and past the Navy Headquarters to reach the Gulshan residence.
The statement stated that from there, it would proceed through Gulshan-2, Kamal Ataturk Avenue, and Airport Road, use the Mohakhali Flyover, pass Jahangir Gate and Bijoy Sarani, cross the Aircraft Crossing, turn left, and head to the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The vehicle would enter through Gate No. 6 and reach the South Plaza.
According to the pre-announced schedule, Khaleda Zia’s namaz-e-janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers around 2pm. The funeral prayer will be led by Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
She will later be buried with state honours beside the grave of former president Ziaur Rahman at Chandrima Udyan on the north side of the parliament at 3:30pm.
Khaleda Zia died around 6am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80. She had long been suffering from various health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney complications.
