Dhaka [Bangladesh], December 31 (ANI): Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday famous that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, throughout his go to to Dhaka, conveyed the condolences of the individuals and authorities of India as Bangladesh mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
In a submit on X, Hamidullah stated, ‘HE @DrSJaishankar, Hon. External Affairs Minister, in Dhaka, conveys condolences of the individuals | Govt of #India as #Bangladesh mourns passing of former Prime Minister #BegumKhaledaZia, acknowledged her contribution to #democracy and expressed optimism to strengthen ties following democratic transition in Bangladesh through the upcoming election (Feb 2026).’
https://x.com/hamidullah_riaz/status/2006266249081413696?s=20
As tributes continued to pour in from the world over, the physique of former Bangladesh prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia reached her Gulshan residence, Firoza, on Wednesday. Family members and shut relations gathered on the residence to pay their final respects forward of her Namaz-e-Janaza.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus stated in a submit on X, ‘The physique of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia arrived at Firoza in Gulshan, the place relations and relations paid their final respects to her forward of her Namaz-e-Janaza.’
At the residence, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman was current alongside relations.
He was seen seated quietly with a prayer e book in his arms, paying his closing respects to his mom in a second marked by solemn grief.
The funeral prayer for the previous prime minister shall be held at 2 pm right this moment on Manik Mia Avenue on the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament Building. Large crowds have already gathered on the venue to take part within the Namaz-e-Janaza, with tens of millions of mourners reported to be current.
Chief Adviser of the interim authorities Muhammad Yunus, together with different dignitaries, is predicted to attend the funeral prayer.
Following the prayers, Khaleda Zia shall be laid to relaxation beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, at his mausoleum in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The funeral has drawn regional consideration, with India confirming official participation within the final rites.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will characterize India on the funeral, in accordance with a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs.
‘The External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar will characterize the Government and other people of India on the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,’ the assertion stated.
Senior representatives from a number of South Asian international locations, together with Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, are additionally anticipated to pay their final respects. These delegations embrace international ministers and different high-level officers.
Bangladesh is observing a public vacation and has entered a three-day interval of state mourning.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first lady prime minister, died on Tuesday on the age of 80 after a chronic sickness. A dominant determine in nationwide politics for many years, she led Bangladesh for 3 phrases and performed a key function in restoring democracy following years of army rule.
As preparations for the ultimate rites continued, BNP leaders stated the funeral prayer shall be led by the khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan will conduct the proceedings.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, as quoted by The Daily Star, urged attendees to keep up self-discipline, keep away from speeding ahead or taking images, and protect the dignity and solemnity of the ceremony.
He additionally appealed to the general public to wish for power for the Zia household, notably Tarique Rahman, to bear the loss and proceed his obligations in direction of the nation.
Earlier within the day, the BNP Standing Committee met on the social gathering chairperson’s Gulshan workplace, with the assembly chaired by Tarique Rahman. Alongside party-level preparations, the federal government introduced that Khaleda Zia’s closing journey can be carried out with full state honours.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated the method, from transporting her physique from Evercare Hospital to the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, adopted by the funeral prayer and burial, would happen underneath heightened safety.
More than 10,000 police and Armed Police Battalion personnel have been deployed, with military members stationed at key factors, The Daily Star reported. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police additionally outlined the convoy route. Vehicular motion alongside affected roads will stay restricted, and the general public has been requested to cooperate with regulation enforcement businesses. In parallel, the federal government has declared a three-day state mourning beginning right this moment.
In a televised handle on Tuesday, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus introduced a public vacation for December 31. A gazette notification was subsequently issued by the general public administration ministry. According to the notification, all authorities, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and personal workplaces will stay closed right this moment.
Emergency and important companies, together with electrical energy, water, fuel, fireplace companies, ports, sanitation, telecommunications, postal companies and healthcare, will proceed to function. Hospitals, emergency medical employees and autos carrying medical tools and medicines have additionally been exempted. Following the choice, the Supreme Court and Bangladesh Bank issued separate notifications declaring a public vacation.
In one other gazette notification, the cupboard division formally introduced a three-day nationwide mourning, which can conclude on Friday, The Daily Star stated. Alongside the state observances, the BNP introduced a seven-day mourning interval. Senior joint secretary basic Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated black flags shall be hoisted in any respect social gathering workplaces nationwide. Party leaders and activists will put on black badges, and prayers shall be held at each BNP workplace.
Condolence books have been opened at BNP workplaces, together with Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan residence, the social gathering’s Nayapaltan central workplace and district-level workplaces. Condolences additionally got here from world leaders.
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over Khaleda Zia’s loss of life, extending condolences to her household and the individuals of Bangladesh. In a submit on X, he stated he was ‘deeply saddened’ by her passing and recalled his ‘heat assembly’ together with her in Dhaka in 2015. He added that he hoped her imaginative and prescient and legacy would proceed to information bilateral ties.
Tributes have been additionally paid by leaders from Pakistan and Nepal. Major diplomatic missions and worldwide organisations acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s contributions to Bangladesh’s political and democratic growth.
The United Nations expressed its deepest sympathies to her household and reaffirmed solidarity with the federal government and other people of Bangladesh. The European Union additionally conveyed its condolences. The US Embassy in Dhaka stated she performed a pivotal function in shaping the nation’s fashionable historical past. Russia stated it will bear in mind her for sustaining cordial bilateral relations throughout her three tenures as prime minister. China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi despatched condolence messages to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen conveyed condolences to Tarique Rahman.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Khaleda Zia as a dedicated buddy of Pakistan, with President Asif Ali Zardari additionally extending condolences. Malaysia, Nepal, the Maldives and several other different international locations echoed comparable sentiments.
Diplomatic missions together with the British High Commission, in addition to the German, French, Japanese and Iranian embassies, additionally issued statements mourning her passing. Australia stated its ideas have been with the individuals of Bangladesh as they mourn the previous prime minister. (ANI)