Khaleda Zia’s Namaz-e-Janaza to Be Held Tomorrow at JS South Plaza
The namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayers) of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will be held tomorrow at 2 PM at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS). The Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque will lead the prayers. Following the prayers, she will be laid to rest with full state honors beside the grave of her husband BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the schedule this afternoon following an emergency meeting at the BNP Chairperson's office. The meeting was attended by Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
Expressing profound grief, Mirza Fakhrul said, "A great leader of the democratic world, who dedicated her entire life to the restoration of democracy, is no longer among us. Her passing is an irreparable loss for the people of Bangladesh. She left us at a time when the nation needed her most." He noted that the timing of her demise is particularly painful as the nation moves toward an election aimed at upholding democracy. "It is difficult for us to bear this grief and pain," Fakhrul added.
He further said funeral prayers will be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building and the adjacent Manik Mia Avenue at 2 PM. The Khatib of the National Mosque will lead the Namaz-e-Janaza. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan will coordinate the funeral proceedings. She will be buried beside the proclaimer of independence and proponent of multi-party democracy Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
Mirza Fakhrul appealed to people from all walks of life to maintain strict discipline during the funeral and burial rites. "I urge everyone to show their final respect to our leader by maintaining order, so that the Janaza and burial can be completed smoothly," he stated. The Secretary General also prayed for the BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, so that Allah grants him the strength to bear this loss and fulfill the responsibilities left behind by his mother.
Begum Khaleda Zia breathed her last at 6:00 AM today while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The interim government has declared three days of state mourning from Wednesday to Friday (Dec 31 - Jan 2). A public holiday has been announced for Wednesday, December 31, across the country.
