Staff Reporter:
The nation is observing the state mourning for the second consecutive day following the death of three-time former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, declared the three-day state mourning starting from Wednesday as well as one-day general holiday on Wednesday.
On this occasion, 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 were arranged at every mosque across the country on Wednesday seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia while special prayers were also organised at places of worship of other religions.
Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad at the death of the former prime minister.
Begum Khaleda Zia, who breathed her last on Tuesday morning at the age of 80, was laid to eternal rest with full state honor beside her husband martyred President Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Zia Udyan in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Wednesday afternoon.
Before the burial, millions of people from all walks of life including foreign guests and diplomats joined the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, foreign dignitaries, advisers of the interim government, chiefs of the three services, leaders of different political parties, senior civil and military officials, and family members joined the funeral prayers.
Among the foreign dignitaries, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan; DN Dhungyel, Foreign Minister of Bhutan; Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India; Bala Nanda Sharma, Foreign Minister of Nepal; Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka; and Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development of the Republic of Maldives, were present at the funeral process of Begum Zia.
The country’s first female Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy in Bangladesh, played a crucial role in the country’s transition to parliamentary democracy and introducing the caretaker government system.
She is survived by her elder son Tarique Rahman, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. Her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died in 2015.
