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while elevated roads near Farmgate were lined with people offering prayers from afar.

Volunteers guided those with mobility challenges to accessible spaces, helping with wheelchairs or providing chairs, ensuring that no one was left out of the final tribute.

“I knew I could not reach the South Plaza, but I still came,” said Abdul Malek, a rickshaw-puller standing near Farmgate since noon.

The diversity of the crowd was striking. Elderly men leaned on walking sticks, young students stood quietly with folded hands, women arrived with children, fathers held their children close, and workers in uniforms paused their day to join the gathering. Many were visibly emotional, wiping tears while whispering prayers.

Near Green Road, Rahima Begum, a middle-aged homemaker, said she felt compelled to come despite the congestion.

“She [Khaleda] spoke for people like us. I grew up watching her stand strong. Today, I wanted to stand for her, even from far away.”

Law enforcers and party volunteers were deployed across the area to manage the unprecedented crowd. Police guided people away from bottlenecks, while volunteers offered water and urged calm.

Traffic on surrounding roads came to a near standstill. Authorities repeatedly requested cooperation from citizens, and despite the congestion, mourners remained patient.

“We are all here for one reason,” said Jahid Hasan, a university student near Jahangir Gate. “This is not about inconvenience. It is about respect.”

Many described Khaleda as a towering political figure who shaped Bangladesh’s modern history and inspired generations.

Rifat Hossain, a middle-aged man offering prayers near Dhanmondi-27, said, “She was not only the leader of a party, but a leader of the people, irrespective of political backgrounds. Today’s crowd proves how deeply she is loved.”

As the janaza approached, the atmosphere grew solemn. Chants of prayer echoed through Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding roads. From rooftops to footpaths, people stood in silence, hands raised, eyes closed, united in a final act of farewell. The sound of prayers reverberated across the city, a symbolic moment of collective grief and respect.

After the janaza concluded, people slowly began to disperse, yet many continued to pay their respects, stopping to offer one last prayer.

For many of them, the day will be remembered not just as the passing of a former prime minister, but as a moment when the city itself paused to honour a leader whose life left an indelible mark on the nation’s political and emotional landscape.