By Dhaka Correspondent
The funeral prayer (janaza) of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Begum Khaleda Zia, was held amid an overwhelming turnout on Wednesday (December 31). The janaza took place at 3:05 pm at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, with nearly ten million people in attendance.
From early morning, people from all walks of life began gathering in groups along Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding areas of the capital to take part in the funeral prayer. Even before the prayer began, a massive influx of mourners turned the entire area into a sea of people.
The janaza prayer was led by Mufti Abdul Malek, Khatib of the national mosque Baitul Mukarram. A solemn and emotional atmosphere prevailed throughout the area during the prayer.
Among those present at the janaza were Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chiefs of the three armed forces, the Chief Justice, ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from various countries, political leaders, Islamic scholars, and other distinguished personalities.
Following the funeral prayer, Begum Khaleda Zia’s body was taken to Zia Udyan for burial. She is to be laid to rest beside the grave of her husband, the late President and BNP founder Shaheed Ziaur Rahman.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the janaza and maintain tight security, 27 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed across Manik Mia Avenue and other key areas of the capital. In addition, law enforcement agencies and volunteers remained on duty throughout the event.
Earlier, Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6:00 am on Tuesday (December 30) while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un).
Following her death, the government declared three days of state mourning from Wednesday to Friday (December 31, January 1 and 2). A nationwide public holiday was also announced on Wednesday.
Observers believe that the janaza, attended by millions of people from across the country, was one of the largest funeral prayers in the history of Bangladesh.