United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to eternal rest with full state honour beside her husband and late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar’s Zia Udyan in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. She was buried around 4:30 pm, with her eldest son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman personally placing her in the grave, following her namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. A guard of honour was provided by the armed forces during the burial. On completion of the burial, the chiefs of the army, navy, and air force, the Home Adviser and Tarique Rahman, laid separate wreaths at the grave, paying tribute to Khaleda Zia. Two wreaths were also laid at Khaleda Zia’s grave on behalf of President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Professor Muhammad Yunus Chief Adviser. Later, a munajat was offered, seeking the salvation of her departed soul. Members of her family, high-ranking state officials, armed forces personnel, government authorities, and senior BNP leaders attended the burial and the munajat. Access to Zia Udyan was restricted to designated personnel during the burial, and public movement in the area remained limited until the ceremony concluded. After the namaz-e-janaza, Khaleda Zia’s body was transported from the Jatiya Sangsad complex to Zia Udyan in a national flag-draped freezer van under tight security. Her body was moved in a special vehicle around 4:25pm to rest beside her martyred husband, former President Ziaur Rahman. Near the grave, members of the army and navy carried her coffin to the burial site. During the funeral, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, younger brother Arafat Rahman’s wife Shameela Rahman, and her daughters Jahia and Zafira Rahman, along with other family members, BNP leaders, and politicians, and the members of armed forces stood in mourning and paid their respects.