A massive crowd pours into Dhaka to attend Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayer

Staff Reporter: Thousands of ordinary citizens and political leaders from across Bangladesh have gathered in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayer of Begum Khaleda Zia, the country’s three-time former prime minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The state funeral prayer will be held with full national honors at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday (December 31) at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Since Tuesday night, tens of thousands of BNP leaders and activists, along with members of its affiliated organizations, have gathered around the parliament area, Evercare Hospital, the party’s Gulshan office, and Khaleda Zia’s residence, “Firoza,” to pay their final respects. Mourning crowds from different districts of the country have braved the winter night, assembling along Manik Mia Avenue and nearby areas as they await the funeral prayer.

An unprecedented security arrangement has been put in place across the capital in connection with the funeral. Large contingents of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel have been deployed at all major entry points and intersections in Dhaka, including the parliament complex. Special checkpoints and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in and around the funeral venue and Manik Mia Avenue to ensure tight security. In addition to law enforcement agencies, thousands of BNP volunteers are also actively working to help manage the massive crowd in an orderly manner. The authorities have issued special traffic directives to ensure the smooth conduct of the state ceremony.

Not only people from across Bangladesh, but high-level foreign representatives are also arriving in Dhaka to pay their respects to Begum Khaleda Zia. Delegations from several South and Southeast Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, are expected to attend the funeral prayer and convey condolences to the bereaved family.

The presence of these international figures reflects Begum Khaleda Zia’s political stature on the global stage and the profound sense of loss surrounding her passing. The chief adviser of the interim government and other advisers are also expected to attend the funeral prayer and pay state honors to the former prime minister.

It may be recalled that Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 79 at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday (December 30) after receiving prolonged treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. Born on August 15, 1945, she was Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and the second female prime minister in the Muslim world. Her death has created an irreparable political void in the country.

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

BP/SM