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a namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the National Parliament that saw the largest gathering in the history of Bangladesh.

After the namaz-e-janaza was completed at 3:05pm, Khaleda’s body was transported to Zia Udyan in the national flag-draped freezer van in which Khaleda began her final journey starting from Evercare Hospital in the morning.

At the Zia Udyan, her coffin was transferred to a special ceremonial carriage. After the flag-draped coffin was brought close to the burial site, members of the army and navy carried it on their shoulders and marched slowly to the grave, with Tarique following behind.

The coffin was then gently opened, and the armed forces folded the flag and handed it to the family.

Tarique went down to the grave to receive his mother’s body while his aides held the BNP flag on top for privacy.

The event was held under tight security, with police, army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel securing the area to ensure safety.

After her burial, Khaleda was given a Guard of Honour by armed forces under the supervision of the President Guard Regiment.

Following the burial, Tarique stood by the grave with his wife, Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and other family members.

The widow of Khaleda’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and his daughters stood in quiet reflection, along with other close family members, including Khaleda’s brother Shamim Eskander, his wife Kaniz Fatema, another sister-in-law of Khaleda Nasrin Ahmed, sister Selina Islam.

As the burial concluded, mourners gathered outside the Zia Udyan entrance gate, trying to watch inside.

At 4:53 PM, the Guard of Honour was held. Then the chiefs of the army, navy and air force; Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Tarique laid wreaths at the grave. Two wreaths were also placed on behalf of President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The ceremony concluded with the solemn playing of the Last Post by bugles.

At 5:06 PM, a prayer was held for Khaleda Zia. Tarique raised both hands, with his gaze fixed on the grave of his mother. After the prayer, Tarique met with attending officials before leaving for his Gulshan residence with his family by bus.

Earlier in the day, strict security measures were implemented, with law enforcement agencies restricting access to the area.

No outsiders were allowed to enter as Khaleda’s body was transported to Zia Udyan, and police along with BGB forces were deployed at the entrance.

Before the burial, a massive crowd had gathered at the National Parliament and Manik Mia Avenue for Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayers.

People began arriving early in the morning, and by noon, the streets from Manik Mia Avenue to Karwan Bazar were packed with mourners.

Khaleda led the BNP for 41 years and earned the title of the ‘uncompromising leader’ during the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s.

She served as a member of parliament five times, as the Prime Minister thrice and the leader of the opposition twice. She never lost an election she contested.

Khaleda’s last public appearance was on November 21 at the Armed Forces Day reception at Dhaka Cantonment. Two days later, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital for routine tests, during which doctors detected a chest infection and kept her under observation. She was also suffering from pneumonia.

She breathed her last at the capital’s Evercare Hospital around 6:00am on December 30, just five days after Tarique returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile.