Khaleda Zia’s Janaza in public at Manik Mia Avenue, laid to rest in Zia Udyan

The car carrying the body of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia reached Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, which became a sea of people, around 3:30. The coffin, draped in the national flag, was taken down from the car and placed on a temporary dais constructed at the funeral ground. His eldest son Tariq Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government Professor Muhammad Yunus and other important people of the government and various political parties were standing in the front row.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan briefly presented the life and work of Begum Khaleda Zia before the funeral. He said, Begum Zia loved to be neat and had a special fondness for flowers. That is why his gatherings were decorated.
Nazrul Islam Khan said that on August 5, 1960, Khaleda Zia got married to then army officer Captain Ziaur Rahman. Their eldest son Tariq Rahman is currently the Acting Chairman of BNP. He mentioned that the younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died without treatment during his stay in Malaysia in 2015 due to political revenge.
He also said that after the martyrdom of President Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, BNP faced difficult times. On January 3, 1982, Khaleda Zia became actively involved in politics. Served as Vice Chairman, Acting Chairman and later Chairman-elect in the party council. He was the top leader of BNP for 41 years of his 43 years of political life. After a long 9-year movement against dictator Ershad, he brought BNP to power in 1991 through free and fair elections and was elected prime minister three times.
Nazrul Islam Khan said, “No one could force Khaleda Zia to compromise until the end of her life. She remained with the people. She used to say – we have friends abroad, but no Lord.”
Tariq Rahman addressed the millions of people present at the funeral. He said, “If my mother Begum Khaleda Zia took any loan from anyone while she was alive,Please contact me—I will pay. At the same time, I apologize on behalf of the deceased if anyone has been hurt by any of his words or behavior. You should pray, may Allah grant him Paradise.”After Tariq Rahman’s speech, the funeral started around 3 pm. Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek of National Mosque Baitul Mukarram led the funeral. After the funeral, the car carrying Khaleda Zia’s body left for Zia Garden. She will be buried there next to the grave of her husband martyred President Ziaur Rahman.