Khaleda Zia's Death: Nation observes 2nd day of state mourning

Staff Reporter :

The country is observing the second day of state mourning following the death of BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced a three-day state mourning beginning Wednesday and declared Wednesday a general holiday.

As part of the mourning, the national flag is being flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies, educational institutions, and public and private buildings across the country, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.

Special prayers and munajat were held at mosques nationwide on Wednesday, seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia. Similar prayers were also arranged at places of worship of other religions. Condolence books have been opened at Bangladesh missions abroad to allow people to pay their respects.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 80. She was laid to rest with full state honours beside the grave of her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. Prior to her burial, millions of people from all walks of life, including foreign guests and diplomats, attended her namaz-e-janaza at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka.

The funeral prayers were joined by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, advisers of the interim government, the chiefs of the three armed services, leaders of various political parties, senior civil and military officials, and members of her family.

Foreign dignitaries present at the funeral included Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lanka’s Minister Vijitha Herath, and Maldives Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed.
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia is widely remembered as a steadfast advocate of democracy, playing a significant role in restoring 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, passed away in 2015.