Bangladesh: Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was laid to rest with full state honours beside her husband, former president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.
Her burial took place shortly before 5:00 pm following a series of official and religious ceremonies. The funeral marked one of the largest political gatherings in recent years, drawing massive public participation and high-level foreign representation.
Janaza at National Parliament Complex
The namaz-e-janaza of Khaleda Zia was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 3:02 pm. The prayer was led by the khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, while BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan conducted the proceedings.
Thousands of mourners gathered at the parliament complex and surrounding areas, including Manik Mia Avenue and adjacent roads, which were overwhelmed by crowds well before the prayer began. The janaza concluded within minutes amid heightened security.
Burial at Zia Udyan
After the prayer, Khaleda Zia’s body, draped in the national flag, was transported from the parliament complex to Zia Udyan under strict security arrangements. At around 4:30 pm, the coffin was taken to the gravesite beside Ziaur Rahman’s mausoleum.
Members of the Army and Navy carried the coffin on their shoulders during the final rites. Family members, senior BNP leaders, political figures from various parties, and supporters stood in solemn silence to pay their final respects.
Her elder son, Tarique Rahman, along with his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and other family members were present throughout the burial. After the funeral, Tarique Rahman departed for his residence in Gulshan later in the afternoon.
Regional Leaders Attend State Funeral
The state funeral drew significant regional attention, with several South Asian countries sending senior representatives to Dhaka.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in the morning on a special flight and was received by diplomatic officials. Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also reached Dhaka, followed by Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma and Bhutan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Lyonpo D N Dhungyel.
Their presence underscored the regional significance of Khaleda Zia’s political legacy.
Nationwide Mourning Declared by BNP
The BNP has announced a seven-day mourning programme following Khaleda Zia’s death. The party’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press briefing held at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka earlier in the day.
He said party leaders and activists will wear black badges, condolence books will be opened at all BNP offices, and prayers and Quran recitations will be organised at party offices across the country, including at the BNP chairperson’s offices in Gulshan and Nayapaltan.
Passing of a Political Figure
Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6:00 am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital in the capital. She was 80. The news of her death was confirmed through the BNP’s verified social media platforms.
As a three-time prime minister and one of the most influential political figures in Bangladesh’s history, her death marks the end of an era in the country’s politics.
