Historic Funeral Held at National Parliament

The funeral of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, marking one of the largest congregations in the history of the Muslim world. Millions of people from across the country and abroad attended, making it an extraordinary political and cultural event of unparalleled scale.

The funeral prayer (Janaza) commenced punctually at 3:03 PM, presided over by Mufti Abdul Malek, the Khatib of Baitul Mokarram, who led the prayers and supplications. Earlier, at 9:00 AM, Khaleda Zia’s body, draped in the national flag, was brought from Evercare Hospital to her residence in Firoz Mansion, allowing the public to pay their final respects. Eyewitnesses reported an unprecedented density of attendees, stretching from Manik Mia Avenue to surrounding streets over several kilometres.

The ceremony saw the presence of a distinguished array of political, religious, and military figures. Chief guests included Nobel Laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus, members of the Advisory Council, and the three service chiefs of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Senior BNP leaders, notably Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were also in attendance. Diplomatic representatives from various countries, including India and Pakistan, joined to express condolences and honour the late leader.

International solidarity was prominent: India’s Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, personally conveyed a message of condolence to Begum Khaleda’s elder son and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Similarly, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq visited Dhaka to express grief.

The scale of participation, both domestic and international, underlined the widespread respect and affection Khaleda Zia commanded throughout her political career.

Key Participants at the Funeral

The flow of attendees continued unabated throughout the day, reflecting the immense respect and affection for the late leader. The event has now been recorded in history as one of the densest and most memorable funeral gatherings in the Muslim world.