The janaza took place after Asr prayers with the participation of several thousand people from all walks of life, including politicians from different parties.
Before the janaza, Jatiya Party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga read out a life sketch of former military ruler Ershad.
In a brief address, party acting chairman GM Quader recalled his brother’s various steps in favour of Islam. “As a man, he might have made mistakes in his words and actions. I, on behalf of my brother, urge all to forgive him.”
He also requested all to pray for the eternal peace of Ershad’s departed soul.
Ershad’s body was taken to the national mosque premises from Jatiya Party’s Kakrail central around 5pm.
Earlier in the morning, his second was held under the tunnel of South Plaza of parliament.
President Abdul Hamid, ministers, members of parliament, senior political leaders from different political parties attended the janaza.
The President paid tributes to Ershad, also the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, by placing a wreath on his coffin.
On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her military secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin paid homage to the Jatiya Party chief by placing a wreath at his coffin.
A wreath was also placed at Ershad’s coffin on behalf of Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
Later, Deputy Speaker M Fazley Rabbi Mia and Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury paid homage to him.
On behalf of ruling Awami League, its senior leaders paid tributes to Ershad by placing a wreath at his coffin.
Deputy Opposition Leader and Jatiya Party Cochairman Begum Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party Acting chairman GM Quader along with party senior leaders also paid homage to Ershad.
Prior to the janaza there, Ershad’s wife Begum Raushon Ershad, his younger brother GM Quader and Awami League advisory council member Tofail Ahmed delivered brief addresses there.
Apart from president, senior Awami League leaders Tofail Ahemd and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Health Minister Zahid Malek, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Awami League leaders, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, Jatiya Party leaders, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Kazi Feroz Rashid, Anisul Islam Mahmud and senior leaders from different political parties attended the janaza.
Later, his body was taken to the party’s central office at Kakrail around 12:10pm enabling Jatiya Party leaders and activists to pay their last tributes to their beloved leader.
Several thousand leaders and activists of Jatiya Party and its associate bodies paid homage to Ershad there by placing wreaths on his coffin.
Many party leaders and activists were seen bidding tearful adieu to their chairman, whom they call ‘Palli Bandhu’.
His body will be kept at the CMH mortuary overnight on Monday. It will be flown to his home district Rangpur on Tuesday where his fourth janaza will be held at the Zila School grounds. He is supposed to be laid to rest at the Military Graveyard in Banani the same day.
Ershad’s first janaza took place at the Army Central Mosque around 1:45pm on Sunday.
Meanwhile, condolence books will be opened at the Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office and the party’s Kakrail central office till July 18 between 11am and 4pm, said party chairman’s press and political secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy.
Ershad, a former military strongman and five-time MP, breathed his last at 7:45am on Sunday while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at the age of 89.
Ershad’s Qulkhwani will be held on Wednesday at Gulshan’s Azad mosque.