Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman today (Wednesday) met visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal's Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, and Bhutan's Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here. Read More Pakistan Speaker and Indian Minister Meet at Begum Zia’s Funeral The dignitaries arrived in Dhaka to attend the last rites of former Prime Minister and national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away yesterday. The advisers expressed their gratitude to the visiting dignitaries for their presence and for showing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this time of national mourning.

In a notable moment of regional diplomacy, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar exchanged greetings on Wednesday at Manik Mia Avenue, ahead of the state funeral of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Both leaders arrived in the capital this morning, representing their respective governments to pay final respects to the three-time former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson. Their presence underscores the significant regional impact of Khaleda Zia’s long political career and her role in South Asian affairs. Read More Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Calls on CA Prior to the commencement of the namaz-e-janaza, Speaker Sadiq and Minister Jaishankar met with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. They conveyed formal condolence messages on behalf of Pakistan and India, expressing deep sympathy for the bereaved family and the people of Bangladesh. The interaction between the high-ranking officials of the two neighboring nations, amidst a sea of millions of mourners, highlighted a rare moment of shared respect for the veteran Bangladeshi leader. Dignitaries from across the globe have gathered in Dhaka today, reflecting a broad international recognition of Khaleda Zia's legacy as a symbol of democratic struggle in the region. Following the funeral prayers, both foreign representatives joined the state processional as the nation prepares to lay the "uncompromising leader" to her eternal rest.

An era in Bangladesh's political history concluded on Wednesday as former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was laid to eternal rest with full state honors.  The three-time premier was interred beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at approximately 4:30 pm. The burial followed a massive funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) at Manik Mia Avenue, where hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in an unprecedented display of national grief.  The prayers were led at 3:02 pm by the renowned Islamic scholar and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram, Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek.  The congregation was joined by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chiefs of the three services, interim government advisers, and high-level foreign dignitaries from across South Asia, including representatives from India and Pakistan. The final journey of the "uncompromising leader" began early Wednesday morning when her body, draped in the national flag, was brought to the Parliament area from the residence of her son, Tarique Rahman.  Read More Please Pray for My Mother: Tarique Rahman Despite the biting winter cold, millions of citizens from every corner of the country converged on the capital to pay their final respects. To ensure order, a multi-layered security detail involving the Army, Police, RAB and BGB was deployed across the city. Begum Khaleda Zia’s death at age 80 follows a month-long battle with chronic health complications at Evercare Hospital.  Her legacy spans 41 years of political leadership, during which she transitioned from a homemaker to a three-time Prime Minister and five-term Member of Parliament. She was famously known for her steadfast resolve during the anti-autocracy movements of the 1990s and for her historic record of never losing an election she contested. While the general public was restricted from the immediate burial site to maintain solemnity, the sheer scale of the gathering at her janaza served as a powerful testament to her enduring connection with the people of Bangladesh.  As she was laid to rest with military honors, the nation observed a day of mourning for the woman who spent over four decades shaping its democratic path.

In a deeply emotional moment preceding the funeral prayers at Manik Mia Avenue, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a massive congregation of millions, seeking spiritual blessings for his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia.  Standing before the sea of mourners, he introduced himself simply as her eldest son and made a heartfelt request: "Please pray for my mother so that Allah grants her Jannat (Paradise)." The namaz-e-janaza of the three-time former Prime Minister and country's first female premier was conducted by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.  Read More Millions Bid Tearful Farewell as Begum Zia’s Janaza Concludes Before the prayers, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan shared a brief biography, reflecting on her journey as a political icon. The red-and-green national flag-wrapped coffin was brought to the venue with full state honors at 2:45 pm, with the prayers commencing at 3:00 pm. The gathering was attended by the highest levels of the state, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury.  They were joined by foreign dignitaries, interim government advisers, the chiefs of the three services, and senior civil and military officers, alongside an overwhelming number of citizens from all walks of life. As the final prayers were offered, the venue echoed with the sound of weeping as mourners bid a tearful adieu to their beloved leader. Following the ceremony, her body was taken to Zia Udyan to be laid to eternal rest beside the grave of her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, with full state honors. 

A sea of millions converged on the heart of the capital on Wednesday as the nation offered the final funeral prayers (namaz-e-janaza) for three-time former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.  Bidding a heart-wrenching farewell to the "uncompromising leader" of democracy, hundreds of thousands of mourners filled Manik Mia Avenue, stretching across Khamar Bari, Bijoy Sarani, Asad Gate and Karwan Bazar, turning the entire district into a massive congregation of grief.  The prayers were led by Mufti Abdul Malek, The Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, at approximately 3 pm under a bright winter sun, marking one of the largest funeral gatherings in the history of Bangladesh. Read More The Wordless Grief of Tarique Rahman The funeral was attended by a broad spectrum of national and international leadership, reflecting the former premier's immense political stature.  Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus joined the congregation alongside advisers of the interim government, the chiefs of the three services and senior leaders from various political parties.  A significant presence of foreign dignitaries was also noted, with representatives from India, Pakistan and several South and Southeast Asian nations arriving in Dhaka to pay their last respects.  The atmosphere remained profoundly solemn as the red-and-green national flag-draped freezer van, which had arrived from the residence of her son Tarique Rahman at 11:50 am, stood at the center of the massive crowd. Despite the biting winter cold, the outpouring of public sentiment was overwhelming, with citizens from the farthest corners of the country traveling overnight by any available means to reach the capital.  Many mourners were seen weeping openly, sharing stories of her resilience and her role in shaping the modern democratic journey of Bangladesh. To manage the unprecedented scale of the gathering, a multi-layered security operation involving the Army, Police, RAB, and BGB was deployed to maintain order.  Following the conclusion of the janaza, Begum Khaleda Zia is being taken to Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, where she will be laid to eternal rest with full state honors beside the grave of her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman.  Her passing on Tuesday morning at the age of 80 marks the end of a monumental era, leaving behind a legacy of steadfastness that has united the nation in mourning today.