Staff Reporter:
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman sought doa (supplication) for eternal peace of the departed soul of his mother Begum Khaleda Zia, three-time former Prime Minister and the party’s chairperson, prior to her Namaz-e-Janaza at Manik Mia Avenue yesterday afternoon.
“I am Tarique Rahman, elder son of late Begum Khaleda Zia . . . please pray for my mother so that Al-lah grant her the Jannat,” he said.
Millions of people joined the Janaza of Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female Prime Minister and politi-cal icon.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the funeral prayers while BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief biography of Begum Zia.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury joined the funeral prayers along with foreign dignitaries, advisers of the interim government, chiefs of three ser-vices, family members and relatives, leaders of different political parties and senior civil and military officers.
Mourners from all walks of life offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Zia as they burst into tears being emotional with the passage of their beloved leader.
Earlier, the coffin wrapped with the national flag was brought to the venue with state honor around 2:45pm and the Janaza was held around 3pm.
Later, her body was taken to Zia Udyan lay to eternal rest beside her husband Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s grave with state honor.
