Khaleda Zia Laid to Rest Beside Husband Ziaur Rahman in Dhaka Funeral

Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside her husband, Ziaur Rahman, in Dhaka. Thousands, including Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, attended the state funeral. Bangladesh is observing a three-day state mourning for the 80-year-old leader.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest on Wednesday beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, according to Daily Star. Khaleda Zia was laid to rest following her namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, the report said.

State Funeral Sees Thousands Pay Respects

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus offered condolences to Tarique Rahman. https://x.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/2006341983154180532?s=20

On behalf of the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, his Military Secretary, Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tariq, placed a wreath at the grave of Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday. https://x.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/2006336607906070992?s=20

Thousands gathered to pay their final respects to the veteran leader. According to The Daily Star, the funeral prayer was led by the khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, while BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan oversaw the proceedings.

From early morning, Manik Mia Avenue witnessed a steady influx of mourners, with BNP leaders and party activists arriving from across Dhaka and districts such as Feni, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj to attend the Namaz-e-Janaza.

Muhammad Yunus reached the Parliament Complex to join the funeral prayers and offer his last respects.

The funeral drew wide regional attention, with several South Asian nations dispatching senior representatives to Dhaka to attend the state funeral, The Daily Star reported.

Earlier in the day, the body of Khaleda Zia was brought to her Gulshan residence, Firoza, where family members and close relatives gathered ahead of the funeral.

A Nation in Mourning: Khaleda Zia's Legacy

Bangladesh observed a public holiday on Wednesday and has begun a three-day period of state mourning.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman prime minister, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. A towering figure in national politics, she served three terms as prime minister and played a key role in restoring democracy after years of military rule.

World Leaders and Organizations Pay Tribute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Khaleda Zia's death, extending condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh, and recalling his meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015.

Tributes were also paid by leaders from Pakistan, Nepal and several other countries, while the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Russia, China and several diplomatic missions acknowledged Khaleda Zia's contributions to Bangladesh's political and democratic development.

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