Dhaka: Dhaka came to a standstill on Wednesday as tens of thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects to former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. The nation observed a public holiday and entered a three-day period of official mourning to mark the loss of one of Bangladesh’s most prominent political leaders.
Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female prime minister, will be laid to rest beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar later today. Her funeral has drawn regional attention, with India sending its External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to attend the final rites on behalf of the Indian government.
The namaz-e-janaza is scheduled to take place at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, led by the khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, with BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan overseeing the proceedings. Prior to the funeral, the BNP Standing Committee held a meeting at Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office, chaired by her son and party leader, Tarique Rahman.
The government has announced that the funeral will be conducted with full state honours, and strict security arrangements have been put in place. Over 10,000 police and Armed Police Battalion personnel have been deployed, with army personnel stationed at key locations across the capital.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police outlined the route for transporting her body from Evercare Hospital to the South Plaza, which will pass through major thoroughfares including the 36 July Expressway, Kuril flyover, Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Airport Road, and Mohakhali flyover. Vehicular movement along these routes will be restricted during the convoy, and the public has been urged to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
Khaleda Zia’s decades-long political career included three terms as prime minister, during which she played a pivotal role in restoring democracy following years of military rule. Her death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s political history, and the nation has united in mourning one of its most influential leaders.
