Khaleda Zia’s Body Reaches Manik Mia Avenue; Janaza at 2pm

The body of BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy in Bangladesh, reached Mani Mia Avenue here around 11.50am for her namaz-e-janaza to be held 2pm. A motorcade carrying her body left her son Tarique Rahman's Gulshan residence next to her own residence Firoza with state protocol around 11 am. 

Family members and relatives paid their last tributes to her at the residence. Earlier, her body was taken to the residence around 09:15 am from the Evercare Hospital. Since the dawn, different cross-section of people, including leaders and workers of BNP, started gathering in front of the residence as well as Manik Mia Avenue to have a last glimpse of their leader. She will be laid to eternal rest beside her husband Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave in the city following her namaz-e-janaza in the afternoon.

The namaz-e-janaza will be held across the Manik Mia Avenue in the city after Zohr prayers around 2:00 pm. Instead of the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, the coffin will be kept at the western end of Manik Mia Avenue while the janaza will be held across the inner ground of the Jatiya Sangsad, its outer premises and the entire stretch of Manik Mia Avenue, said the Chief Adviser's Press Wing on Tuesday night.

Security forces and all concerned state agencies have taken all necessary preparations to ensure that people from all walks of life can pay their last tributes to the national leader and participate in the janaza without hindrance. Necessary arrangements have been taken so that people can stand along the surrounding roads of Manik Mia Avenue.

After the janaza, Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to eternal rest with state honour beside Shaheed President and valiant freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman's grave around 3:30 pm. Family members of Begum Khaleda Zia, important state dignitaries, responsible officials of the government, foreign guests, ambassadors and BNP-nominated political leaders will be present during the burial. For the smooth completion of the burial, entry will be restricted to designated persons only. Public movement in Zia Udyan at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city will remain limited until the burial process is completed.

A deep pall of gloom swept across the nation following the death of Begum Zia. A three-day state mourning and one-day general holiday, as declared by the government, are being observed today across the country following the death of the former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The national flag has been kept at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, educational institutions, all public and private buildings, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.

In addition, special prayers and Munajat will be arranged today at every mosque across the country seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia. Special prayers will also be organized at places of worship of other religions. Meanwhile, BNP is observing seven days of mourning following the death of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. As part of the programme, black flags were hoisted at all BNP offices across the country for seven days. Leaders and activists at all levels of the party wore black badges during the mourning period. Prayers will be held at every party office.

Condolence books have been opened at the BNP offices, including the party chairperson's office in Gulshan, the central office at Nayapaltan, and district-level offices, where political leaders and well-wishers will be able to write messages paying tribute. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the city at the age of 80. The three-time former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, had been suffering from multiple health complications, including heart and lung, liver and kidney, diabetes, arthritis and eye-related ailments. She had a permanent pacemaker and previously underwent stenting in her heart.

She was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 following the advice of her medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She had also been suffering from pneumonia. Since returning from London on May 6, after receiving advanced medical care, Khaleda Zia had been undergoing regular check-up at the Evercare Hospital. The first female prime minister of Bangladesh has left a strong political legacy that started through the journey of democracy in 1991.

She assumed the office through 1991 national election. She introduced the parliamentary form of government and caretaker government system to hold a free, fair and credible election. Although Begum Khaleda was in prison since 2018, her party and family members repeatedly urged the then government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment, but the pleas were rejected by the fascist Awami League government.

She is survived by her son Tarique Rahman and a host of relatives and admirers. Tarique Rahman returned home on December 25 after 17 years in exile. Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died in Malaysia in 2015. Born in Dinajpur in 1945, Khaleda initially attended Dinajpur Missionary School and later completed her matriculation from Dinajpur Girls' School in 1960. Khaleda's father Iskandar Mazumder was a businessman and mother Tayeba Mazumder was a housewife. Nicknamed "Putul", Khaleda was the second among three sisters and two brothers.

In 1960, she got married to Ziaur Rahman, the then a captain in Pakistan army and continued her education at Surendranath College of Dinajpur until 1965. When the Liberation War started in 1971, Ziaur Rahman revolted and participated in the war. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, BNP faced a serious crisis. At this critical juncture, Khaleda Zia, who was never in politics, joined the party and became its vice-president on January 12, 1984. She was elected BNP's chairperson on May 10, 1984. She was reelected chairperson of the party in January 2010.

Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, BNP formed a 7-party alliance in 1983 and launched a movement against the autocratic regime of Ershad. The Ershad government restricted her movement and she was detained several times. Undaunted, Khaleda Zia continued to provide leadership in the movement for ousting Ershad. Then, she became known as the "uncompromising leader". In the parliamentary election in 1991, BNP emerged victorious as a single majority party. Khaleda Zia contested five constituencies in three consecutive parliamentary elections and won in all the seats. On March 20, 1991, Khaleda Zia was sworn in as the first female prime minister of Bangladesh. She took oath as the prime minister under the new parliamentary system on September 19, 1991.