Nation observes last day of three-day state mourning over Khaleda Zia’s death
Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad following the death of the former prime minister.
The nation today is observing the last day of the three-day state mourning 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 a three-day state mourning starting Wednesday, along with a one-day general holiday on the same day.
On this occasion, the national flag is being kept at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, public and private buildings, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.
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Special prayers and munajat were arranged at mosques across the country on Wednesday seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia. Special prayers were also organised at places of worship of other religions.
Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad following 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 honours beside her husband Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave at Zia Udyan in the capital on Wednesday.
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 Dhaka.
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 attended the funeral prayers.
Among the foreign dignitaries present were Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Bhutan's Foreign Minister D N Dhungyel, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Nepal's Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, and Maldives' Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed.
Bangladesh's first female prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia is widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy and played a crucial role in the country's transition to parliamentary democracy, including the introduction of 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.
