Amid the tears, love, and reverence of millions, Begum Khaleda Zia—Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, three-time former head of government, and chairperson of the BNP—was laid to rest, marking the close of a long and influential chapter in the country’s political history. Her burial was conducted with full state honours.
Her funeral prayer (janaza) was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, drawing an unprecedented crowd that included the country’s top leadership and people from all walks of life. Such a massive turnout at a janaza is rare in the country’s recent history.
The janaza was completed at 3:05pm on Wednesday. The khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mufti Abdul Malek, led the prayers. Among those present were chief adviser of the interim government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the chiefs of the three armed services, and senior leaders from various political parties. Ambassadors and diplomats from several friendly countries were also in attendance.
Although the janaza was scheduled to begin at 2pm, people began heading to Dhaka from different parts of the country in the early hours of the morning. By mid-morning, Manik Mia Avenue, the Parliament area, and surrounding roads had turned into a sea of people. The crowd stretched across Bijoy Sarani, Khamarbari Mor, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, College Gate, Asad Gate, and Shahbagh. Many stood on rooftops, overpasses, and footbridges to take part in the prayers. Due to the sheer density of the crowd, many were unable to reach the main prayer ground in time and offered prayers from a distance.
Despite struggling to manage the pressure of the crowd, law enforcement agencies ensured the janaza was completed peacefully. Tears filled many eyes, and there was a visible yearning to catch a final glimpse of the beloved leader. People from districts including Noakhali, Feni, Bhola, Brahmanbaria, Bogura, and Mymensingh arrived wearing black badges as a mark of mourning. Some reached Dhaka as early as 4:00am, waiting for hours in the hope of joining the janaza.
Nuruzzaman Mia, a man in his sixties from Feni, said: “I saw Ziaur Rahman with my own eyes. Since then, I have taken part in many movements on the streets under Khaleda Zia’s leadership. She does not belong only to the BNP—she is the pride of all of Bangladesh. Her leadership marked a golden era in this country’s politics.”
Ahsan Habib Arman, a Chhatra Dal leader from Bogura, said: “As soon as I heard the news of her death, I decided that I would not find peace unless I attended the janaza. That is why we, the activists, came here to take part in Madam’s funeral.”
To ensure women’s participation, special arrangements were made at the prayer ground. Braving the biting cold, many women joined the janaza. One woman said: “Begum Zia was a symbol of democracy. What she achieved for the country as a woman leader will remain etched in history.”
After the janaza, at around 3:30pm, the motorcade carrying Khaleda Zia’s flag-draped coffin left the Parliament area for Zia Udyan under tight security. At around 4:30pm, her body was taken to the gravesite beside that of former president and her husband, Ziaur Rahman. Members of the Army and Navy carried the coffin on their shoulders to the burial site.
Shortly before 5pm, she was laid to rest with full state honours. Her son, Tarique Rahman, personally lowered Khaleda Zia’s body into the grave. During the burial, Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Zaima Rahman, other family members, and senior BNP leaders stood silently to pay their final respects. Following the burial, a state guard of honour was accorded, after which Tarique Rahman paid floral tributes at his mother’s grave.
Earlier in the day, at 8:54am, Khaleda Zia’s body was taken from Evercare Hospital to Gulshan. Although it was initially planned to take her body to her long-time residence, Firoza, the flag-draped vehicle was later taken to Tarique Rahman’s residence at House No 196 on Gulshan Avenue. Until 11:05am, family members and BNP leaders and activists paid their last respects there. During this time, Tarique Rahman was seen sitting beside his mother’s body, reciting verses from the Holy Quran.
At around 11:05am, the vehicle carrying Khaleda Zia’s body departed from Tarique Rahman’s residence in Gulshan-2 for Manik Mia Avenue. At the same time, Tarique Rahman followed the hearse in a red-and-green bus. Shortly before noon, the motorcade entered the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Extensive security measures were put in place across the capital centring on Khaleda Zia’s janaza and burial. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police said traffic on key roads was regulated during the movement of the convoy. The Chief Adviser’s Office said all government departments worked in coordination to ensure people from all walks of life could pay their respects.
Begum Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister widely known as the “uncompromising leader,” passed away at 6am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Throughout her long political career, she set a unique example by maintaining an uncompromising stance on democracy, national sovereignty, and the rights of the people.