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Hundreds of thousands of radical connected Wednesday (December 31, 2025) bid an emotional farewell to erstwhile Prime Minister and BNP patriarch Khaleda Zia arsenic she was laid to remainder adjacent the parliament gathering amid choky security.
Zia, the three-time Prime Minister and a towering governmental figure, died connected Tuesday (December 30, 2025) astatine the property of 80 aft a prolonged illness. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, respective elder leaders from Pakistan, Nepal, and different neighbouring countries, diplomats and apical governmental and subject brass of Bangladesh attended Zia's ceremonial astatine Manik Mia Avenue.
Zia's coffin, draped successful the nationalist flag, was brought to the ceremonial tract successful a convoy from her residence. Thousands of mourners gathered extracurricular the parliament analyzable to person a past glimpse of their beloved leader. Many Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters were seen carrying flags featuring Zia's photographs.
Bangladesh's interim authorities Chief Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and Zia's lad and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman were among those joining the ceremonial prayers.
"Please commune to Allah seeking her spot successful heaven," Zia’s elder son, Rahman, told the assemblage up of the prayers. Baitul Mokarram National Mosque's main cleric Mohammad Abdul Kader led the ceremonial prayers (namaz-e-janaza) held astatine the Manik Mia Avenue of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (parliament building).
BNP's Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan work retired a little biography of Zia. Mourners from each walks of beingness offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul, arsenic they burst into tears, being affectional with the passing of their beloved leader.
After the ceremonial prayers, she was laid to remainder beside her husband's sedate with authorities honour astatine astir 4:30 p.m. (local time).
Bhutan's Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Lyonpo DN Dhungyel joined the funeral, portion the Maldives was represented by its Higher Education and Labour Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed. Ambassadors, precocious commissioners, and heads of planetary organisations stationed successful Dhaka besides attended Zia's ceremonial prayers.
In a televised code to the nation, Chief Adviser Yunus connected Tuesday (December 31, 2025) announced a three-day State mourning and a one-day wide holiday.
Zia had been suffering from aggregate analyzable and chronic wellness conditions, including liver and kidney complications, bosom disease, precocious humor pressure, diabetes, arthritis and infection-related problems.
She past appeared successful nationalist connected November 21 erstwhile she joined the Armed Forces Day reception astatine Dhaka Cantonment. Two days later, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital for regular tests, during which doctors detected a thorax corruption and decided to support her nether observation.
Her governmental journey, spanning implicit 4 decades, was 1 of tremendous highs and lows: from starring a large enactment and governing the state to being convicted connected corruption charges and aboriginal receiving a statesmanlike pardon.
Her quality arsenic a nationalist fig successful the governmental arena astatine the property of 35 was not a planned debut; rather, she was thrust into authorities aft the 1981 assassination of her husband, a subject ruler turned person who founded BNP successful 1978.
In 1991, BNP won the elections, and Zia became the archetypal pistillate Prime Minister successful Bangladesh and 2nd successful the Muslim satellite aft Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto.
