Sea of Mourners Gathers to Pay Tribute to Khaleda Zia

An overwhelming number of mourners gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Wednesday to pay their final respects to former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Crowds began arriving from around 7:00am, with BNP leaders, activists and supporters travelling from different parts of the capital and districts such as Feni, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj.

From early morning, people from all walks of life continued to pour in by bus, truck, train, private vehicles and motorcycles, turning the area and its surroundings into a vast sea of mourners.

By around 2:00pm, the crowd had spilled over into nearby areas, with large gatherings seen in Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and adjoining localities, bringing traffic in much of the city to a standstill.

The namaz-e-janaza of Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to be held at 2:00pm, with preparations at the venue completed ahead of the funeral prayers.

Several South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan, have sent senior representatives to Dhaka to attend the funeral, reflecting high-level regional respect for the late leader.

Security has been tightened in and around Manik Mia Avenue, with a large number of law enforcement personnel, including police and members of the Armed Police Battalion, deployed to maintain order. Barricades have been set up at key points to ensure public safety.

As part of the security measures, access to the grave of Khaleda Zia’s late husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, has been restricted, and members of the public are not being allowed to approach the area.

The government has announced that Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her husband with full state honours.

Microphones have been installed across the venue and surrounding areas, where recitations from the Holy Quran are continuing as mourners arrive in large numbers.