Khaleda Zia laid to eternal rest beside her husband's grave at Zia Udyan. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, three-time Prime Minister and political icon of Bangladesh, was laid to eternal rest with full state honor beside her husband Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave at Zia Udyan in the capital around 4:50pm. 

After the burial, a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force presented a state salute with three gun-shots in honor of Begum Khaleda Zia. During that time, the bugle played the last Post.

On behalf of the President and the Chief Adviser, floral wreaths were placed at the grave of Begum Zia.

Later, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and chiefs of the three services placed wreaths at her grave. 

Khaleda Zia's family members, several advisers of the interim government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members and other senior leaders attended the burial rituals. 

After the burial, doa and munajat were offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Earlier, her body was taken into the grave around 4:30 and the burial ritual was completed around 4:50pm.

During the burial, Begum Zia's family members, including Tarique Rahman, his wife, daughter, Arafat Rahman Koko's wife and daughters stood in solemn silence. 

Earlier, millions of people joined her namaz-e-janaza at the Manik Mia Avenue around 3pm. 

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the funeral prayers while BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief biography of Begum Zia. 

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and Khaleda Zia's son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the funeral prayers along with foreign dignitaries, advisers of the interim government, leaders of different political parties and senior government and military officials.

Mourners from all walks of life offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Begum Zia as they burst into tears being emotional with the passage of their beloved leader.
Before the janaza, in his funeral speech Tarique Rahman sought prayers for eternal peace of the departed soul of his mother Begum Khaleda Zia. 

"I am Tarique Rahman, elder son of late Begum Khaleda Zia . . . Please pray for my mother so that Allah grant her the Jannat," he said.

The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of grief since the dawn today as millions of mourners from across Bangladesh converged Manik Mia Avenue to pay their final tributes to Begum Zia.

From Tuesday night, all major roads leading to Manik Mia Avenue were crowded as people traveled from every hook and corner of the country by buses, trains, launches, and metro trail and other transports. Scenes of deep sorrow were visible with thousands of mourners weeping.

Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, breathed her last at 6am on Tuesday at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment at a hospital.