Nation observing last day of 3-day state mourning for Khaleda
The nation 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 on Tuesday, announced the three-day state mourning starting from Wednesday, along with a one-day general holiday on Wednesday.
On this occasion, the national flag has been flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, public and private buildings, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special prayers were held at mosques across the country on Wednesday, seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Khaleda Zia, while prayers were also organised at places of worship for other religions. Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad.
Khaleda Zia, who passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 80, was laid to rest with full state honors beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in the capital on Wednesday.
Before the burial, millions of people from all walks of life, including foreign guests and diplomats, attended the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson 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 participated in the funeral prayers.
Foreign dignitaries present included Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan; D.N. Dhungyel, Foreign Minister of Bhutan; Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India; Bala Nanda Sharma, Foreign Minister of Nepal; Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism of Sri Lanka; and Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labour, and Skills Development of the Maldives.
Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, widely regarded as a staunch advocate for democracy, played a key role in the country's transition to parliamentary democracy and in 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.
Source: BSS