Dhaka: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest next to her husband, the late President Ziaur Rahman in a state funeral which witnessed emotional outpouring of grief from hordes of BNP supporters in Dhaka on Wednesday. A host of international representatives, including India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were present on the occasion.
How did Bangladesh bid farewell to Khaleda Zia?
The Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) of former three-time prime minister was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Bangladesh's national parliament building) on Manik Mia Avenue at 2 pm on Wednesday. Khaleda Zia was laid to rest at Chandrima Uddan next to the grave of her husband Ziaur Rahman.
Thousands of people, including hordes of workers and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) – the political outfit founded by Ziaur Rahman - poured into the zone from plane surpassing sunrise. Manik Mia Avenue was packed full with crowds mourners who had travelled from various parts of Dhaka as well as districts such as Feni, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj.
The funeral prayer was led by the khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque with while BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan supervising the event. The huge turnout was a reflection of the widespread support enjoyed by Khaleda Zia, who is a former supremo of the BNP and a towering political icon in the rather unenduring history of Bangladesh.
What was the global reaction to the event?
Diplomats from various countries in the region and wideness the world were in ubiety at the state funeral of Khaleda Zia. Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus – who is heading the interim government which is currently calling the shots in Dhaka – was present at the Parliament ramified to shepherd the funeral. A host of representatives from various countries were arriving at the funeral site throughout the morning.
Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal's Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma and Bhutan's Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Lyonpo DN Dhungyel were among the representatives from countries in the South Asia region.
How did India react?
India represented at Khaleda Zia’s funeral by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who reached Dhaka on Wednesday morning. He met Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, the vicarial chairman of the BNP soon without his inrush and conveyed India's condolences.
"On inrush in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp, Vicarial Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia," Jaishankar said in a statement on social media.
"Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi. Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India," he added.
"Expressed conviction that Begum Khaleda Zia's vision and values will guide the minutiae of our partnership."
What happened at Zia’s funeral?
Khaleda Zia's mortal remains was brought to her residence in the posh Gulshan zone of Dhaka where relatives and tropical members of the family had assembled for private prayers.
After the ‘Janaza’, authorities spoken that Khaleda Zia would be veiled abreast her husband and former president, Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.
Over 10,000 police and Armed Police Battalion personnel were deployed wideness Dhaka with unwashed teams positioned at strategic points. Vehicular movement was restricted withal multiple routes.
