Chief Adviser Joins Khaleda Zia’s Namaz-e-Janaza

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today joined the Namaz-e-Janaza of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at Manik Mia Avenue.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday joined the namaz-e-janaza of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka.

A number of foreign dignitaries who arrived in the capital to attend the funeral also participated in the funeral prayers.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, advisers of the interim government, senior civil and military officials, foreign diplomats, Khaleda Zia’s family members and relatives, as well as leaders of different political parties and people from all walks of life, took part in the janaza.

The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of grief as hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at Manik Mia Avenue to pay their final respects to Begum Zia.

From Tuesday night, major roads leading to Manik Mia Avenue were crowded as people travelled from different parts of the country by buses, trains, launches and metro rail services. Scenes of deep sorrow were visible, with many mourners seen openly weeping.

The influx of BNP leaders, activists and supporters in the capital intensified following news of Begum Zia’s death. Continuous streams of people arrived from across the country, and authorities struggled to manage the massive crowd as Dhaka became the focal point of national mourning.

Despite the cold weather, leaders, activists and ordinary citizens began gathering at Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding areas from late Tuesday night. By early Wednesday morning, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex and nearby roads and pavements were filled to capacity, with many people spending the night outdoors to secure a place near the funeral venue.

Earlier, Khaleda Zia’s body was brought to the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises around 11:50am from her son Tarique Rahman’s Gulshan residence under state protocol amid tight security. The motorcade carrying her body left Gulshan at around 11:00am.

Family members and relatives paid their last tributes to her at the residence. Tarique Rahman was seen reciting from the Holy Quran beside the coffin, while other family members also offered prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Earlier in the day, her body was taken to the Gulshan residence from Evercare Hospital at around 9:15am.

Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan with state honours. The general public will not be allowed during the burial due to the elaborate state funeral arrangements.

The first female prime minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6:00am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital while undergoing treatment. She was 80.

Following her death, a three-day state mourning and a one-day general holiday, as declared by the government, are being observed across the country.