Bangla Press Desk: Iran has begun the official funeral rites for its late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with huge crowds gathering in Tehran for the opening ceremony.
The funeral ceremonies began on Saturday morning at Imam Khomeini Mosalla, a mosque complex in the Iranian capital.
According to the Tasnim News Agency, thousands of people from across Iran arrived hours before the venue opened.
The crowds were so large that the gates were opened at dawn prayers to allow mourners into the main courtyard.
Many carried Iranian flags, clenched-fist symbols, and portraits of the late leader alongside images of the current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
They paid tribute to the former leader while also expressing loyalty to his successor.
Foreign nationals have also gathered at the Mosalla to pay their respects.
Tasnim reported that a separate memorial ceremony for foreign delegations was held in Tehran on Friday.
It described the gathering as one of the largest assemblies of foreign dignitaries in Iran in recent decades, with representatives from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and major international organisations attending.
The attendees included presidents, prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign ministers, senior government officials, political leaders, and representatives of religious organisations and resistance movements.
Representing Bangladesh, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad paid tribute to the late leader.
On Friday, he also met Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and condemned Khamenei's killing.
At the start of the conflict, Bangladesh condemned the “violation of the sovereignty” of countries in West Asia but did not mention the attack on Iran or the killing of Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders.
Ayatollah was killed at his residence on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran.
Tehran later retaliated by attacking Arab countries in West Asia hosting US military bases, describing them as legitimate targets.
The two-day farewell ceremony at Imam Khomeini Mosalla is being held under the slogan "We Must Awaken", alongside the clenched-fist symbol.
The mourning programme will continue for six days across five cities in two countries.
The main funeral procession is scheduled for Monday in Tehran, where Khamenei's coffin will be carried alongside those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, who was the wife of the current supreme leader, and granddaughter, all of whom were killed in the same attack.
After the procession, Khamenei's body will be taken to Qom, the centre of Iran's Shia religious leadership, where funeral prayers and mourning ceremonies will be held on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the coffin will be taken to neighbouring Iraq for funeral processions and prayers in Najaf and Karbala, attended by leaders of Iran-aligned Shia groups.
The body will then return to Mashhad on Thursday for a final procession before burial at the shrine of Imam Reza.
To encourage public participation, hotels are offering 50 percent discounts, while schools, mosques and sports halls have been prepared to accommodate mourners.
Iran has also imposed temporary airspace restrictions over Tehran and other cities as security is tightened.
Officials have warned of a strong response if the United States or Israel launches further attacks.
