Manik Mia Avenue filled with mourners as nation gathers to bid farewell to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda. Photo : GOB Facebook

DHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Manik Mia Avenue in the capital has been packed to capacity as people from across the country gathered in large numbers to attend the janaza of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, scheduled to be held at 2:00 pm today.

As a large of number of mourners started gathering since early morning, the vast stretch of Manik Mia Avenue and the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex was filled with mourners, turning the area into a sea of people united in grief.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with citizens from different professions and age groups, continued to arrive in steady streams, many having travelled overnight from distant districts.

The atmosphere remained solemn as mourners stood shoulder to shoulder, holding national flags, party banners and portraits of Khaleda Zia.

Many were seen offering prayers, while others silently wiped away tears, recalling the political life of the three-time former prime minister. Volunteers worked tirelessly to guide people through designated routes as the crowd density increased with every passing hour.

The janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers on the premises of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. To ensure safety and order, law enforcement agencies have tightened security across the entire area. Medical teams, ambulances, water distribution points and temporary shade arrangements have been deployed to manage the massive gathering ahead of the funeral prayers.

Speaking to BSS, Md Manik bin Zahid, a government employee from Bogura, said Khaleda Zia was like a guardian of the nation. Her death created a great vacuum in the country’s political arena, he said.    

Dhaka University student Anik Hasan said, said the turnout reflects the depth of public sentiment. “Begum Khaleda Zia was not only a political leader but a symbol of democratic resistance. People have come here today as citizens paying respect to a leader who shaped Bangladesh’s political journey,” he said.

Md Monir Hossain, a BNP activist from Narayanganj, said the massive gathering reflects Khaleda Zia’s enduring political legacy. “Despite years of illness and political hardship, she remained a source of inspiration. The spontaneous presence of people from across Bangladesh proves how deeply she is connected to the people,” he added.

Among ordinary citizens, Nurul Islam, a schoolteacher from Tangail, said he felt compelled to attend. “I travelled all night to be here. She was a strong woman leader in our history, and I wanted to see her off with respect,” he told BSS.

University student Mahmudul Hasan, who arrived with friends, said Khaleda Zia’s life left a lasting impression on young people. “Even those who disagreed with her politics recognise her courage and determination during difficult times,” he said.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on party leaders and supporters to maintain discipline. “This is a moment of national mourning. We want the farewell to be dignified, peaceful and respectful,” he said.

Begum Khaleda Zia breathed her last at 6:00 am on Friday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Following her death, the interim government declared three days of state mourning from Wednesday to Friday (Dec 31–Jan 2), with today observed as a public holiday.

Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, assumed office through a popular vote in the 1991 national election and played a key role in restoring parliamentary democracy. She introduced the parliamentary system and the caretaker government mechanism to ensure free and fair elections.

She is survived by her elder son Tarique Rahman, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. Her younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, died earlier in Malaysia. Khaleda Zia had been imprisoned since 2018 in a corruption case and was later granted conditional release in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, she had been hospitalised several times.