Khaleda Zia’s body has arrived at the Parliament

The body of former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, has arrived at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building under stringent security measures. She was transported in a red-and-green national flag-draped freezer van, escorted by the military forming a human chain to ensure full state protocol.

At 11:48 a.m. on Wednesday, 31 December, the van carrying her body reached the South Plaza of the Parliament. Prior to this, at 11:05 a.m., the vehicle departed from her son, Tarique Rahman’s residence at 196 Gulshan Avenue. Earlier, at 8:54 a.m., Begum Khaleda Zia’s body was moved from Evercare Hospital in the capital to Gulshan. Initially, plans were made to take her body to her longtime residence, “Firoza,” but these were later changed to her son’s Gulshan Avenue home. At 196 Gulshan Avenue, family members and BNP leaders paid their final respects until 11:05 a.m.

Her funeral prayers will be held at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka after the Zuhr prayers on Wednesday, led by Mufti Abdul Malek, the Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Preparations for the state funeral have already been completed. Following the funeral, Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her late husband, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman.

Several representatives from South and South-East Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, are expected to attend the funeral to pay their respects to the BNP Chairperson.

To ensure smooth proceedings and tight security, 27 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across Dhaka, including Manik Mia Avenue and other key locations.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 30 December, while under treatment at Evercare Hospital. In response to her death, the government has declared a three-day state mourning period from 31 December to 2 January, and a nationwide holiday has been announced on Wednesday.

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