Millions of people on Wednesday joined the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, three-time Prime Minister and political icon of Bangladesh.
The namaz-e-janaza was held at the Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon. Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the funeral prayers, while BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief biography of Begum Zia.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the funeral prayers along with foreign dignitaries, advisers of the interim government, leaders of different political parties, and senior government and military officials.
Mourners from all walks of life offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Zia as they burst into tears, being emotional with the passage of their beloved leader.
The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of grief on Wednesday as millions of mourners from across Bangladesh converged on Manik Mia Avenue to pay their final tributes to Begum Zia.
From Tuesday night, all major roads leading to Manik Mia Avenue were crowded as people travelled from every nook and corner of the country by buses, trains, launches, metro trails, and other transports. Scenes of deep sorrow were visible with thousands of mourners weeping.
Begum Zia will be laid to eternal rest beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s grave, in the city with state honour, while the general public will not be allowed during the burial, as there will be an elaborate state funeral ceremony.
Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, breathed her last at 6am on Tuesday at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
