DHAKA: Bangladesh observed a public holiday and entered a three-day period of state mourning on Wednesday as a sea of mourners gathered in Dhaka for the funeral of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, marking a moment of national remembrance following the death of one of the country’s most influential political figures.
Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest later today beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital. The funeral has drawn regional attention, with India confirming official participation in the last rites.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the funeral, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. “The External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent the Government and people of India at the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” the statement said.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. A dominant figure in national politics for decades, she led Bangladesh for three terms and played a key role in restoring democracy following years of military rule.
Her namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, after which she will be buried beside Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
As preparations for the final rites continued, BNP leaders said the funeral prayer will be led by the khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, while BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan will conduct the proceedings.
Earlier, the BNP Standing Committee met at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, with the meeting chaired by Tarique Rahman. Alongside party-level arrangements, the government announced that Khaleda Zia’s final journey will be conducted with full state honours.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the process, from transporting her body from Evercare Hospital to the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, followed by the funeral prayer and burial, will take place under heightened security.
More than 10,000 police and Armed Police Battalion personnel will be deployed, with army members stationed at key points, The Daily Star reported. To facilitate the movement, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police outlined the convoy route, stating that the body will be transported from Evercare Hospital via the 36 July Expressway, Kuril flyover, the Naval Headquarters area, Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Airport Road, Mohakhali flyover, Jahangir Gate and Bijoy Sarani before entering the South Plaza through Gate No-6.
Vehicular movement along affected roads will remain restricted during the convoy’s passage, and the public has been requested to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. In parallel with the funeral arrangements, the government has declared a three-day state mourning starting today.