Mourners Gathering as Khaleda Zia Laid to Rest

The funeral prayers for Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were held on Wednesday afternoon amid an unprecedented outpouring of public grief. Moments after the completion of the janazah, preparations began for her burial beside the grave of her late husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with full state honours.

The janazah commenced precisely at 3:03 pm on Manik Mia Avenue, one of the capital’s most iconic civic spaces, and concluded within minutes at 3:05 pm. The prayer was led by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the national mosque, Baitul Mukarram. From early afternoon, vast crowds gathered, transforming Manik Mia Avenue and its surrounding areas into a sea of mourners.

Before the prayer began, Khaleda Zia’s elder son and BNP’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, addressed the assembled crowd, requesting prayers for his mother. “Please pray,” he said solemnly, “so that Almighty Allah grants her Jannah.” His brief words were met with visible emotion among thousands present.

By mid-afternoon, areas stretching from Bijoy Sarani, Khamarbari, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Shahbagh, to Mohammadpur were densely packed with people. Many stood wherever space was available, patiently waiting to join the final rites. The sheer scale of attendance underscored Khaleda Zia’s enduring political stature and personal influence across generations.

Among those attending the funeral prayer was Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, alongside senior political leaders, including BNP leaders and representatives of other parties. International condolences were also conveyed. Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq met Tarique Rahman to express sympathy, while India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar formally handed over a condolence message from the Indian government earlier in the day, according to posts from BNP’s verified social media channels.

Khaleda Zia’s mortal remains arrived at Manik Mia Avenue shortly after noon, transported in a vehicle draped with the national flag. BNP confirmed that the prayer arrangements extended across the inner grounds of the National Parliament House, its outer precincts, and the full stretch of Manik Mia Avenue to accommodate the overwhelming crowd.

Following the janazah, burial was scheduled for approximately 3:30 pm beside President Ziaur Rahman’s grave. Family members, senior state officials, foreign dignitaries, diplomats, and selected political leaders were present. For security and solemnity, access to the burial site was restricted, and public movement around Zia Udyan was limited until the completion of interment.

Begum Khaleda Zia’s final farewell thus unfolded as a moment of national reflection—marked by reverence, order, and an extraordinary public presence befitting a leader who shaped Bangladesh’s modern political history.

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