Speaker to attend Khamenei’s funeral

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad will represent Bangladesh at the funeral of Ali Khamenei in Iran.

The speaker’s visit to Tehran follows an official invitation from the Iranian government, according to Md Monir Hossain, director of public relations at the Parliament Secretariat.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said it had been decided that the speaker would pay tribute to the late Iranian leader on behalf of Bangladesh. Visa processing and the detailed itinerary are now being finalised.

According to the Iranian authorities, the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei will begin in Tehran on 4 July.

Following the state funeral, he is scheduled to be laid to rest in his birthplace, Mashhad, on 9 July.

The funeral had originally been scheduled for March but was postponed because of the conflict involving the United States and Israel.

The three-day funeral programme will be held in Tehran, while separate ceremonies in the holy city of Qom are due to begin on 7 July.

Khamenei, 86, was killed at his residence during the opening phase of a US-Israeli air campaign, which, according to the report, began after the two countries declared their intention to overthrow the ruling establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He had served as Iran’s supreme leader since late 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini following his death.

Khomeini led the Iranian Revolution that overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, while Ali Khamenei played a prominent role in organising the military and paramilitary forces that supported the revolution.

During nearly five decades at the centre of Iran’s political establishment, Khamenei played a key role in strengthening the country’s military capabilities, advancing modernisation efforts and shaping the country’s governing system.

Before becoming supreme leader, he served two terms as Iran’s president from 1981.

Following his death, Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei was also injured in the strike on the supreme leader’s compound. Despite his injuries, Marco Rubio said he played an active role in negotiations with Washington following the attack.