Janaza at Parliament South Plaza, Three-Day State Mourning & BNP Seven-Day Program

The government has declared three days of state mourning following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. In addition, a one-day general holiday has been announced on Wednesday, the day of her funeral prayer (janaza).

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the interim government’s advisory council on Tuesday. Later, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced the government’s decision in a televised address to the nation, which was broadcast simultaneously on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar at 12:00 noon.

Khaleda Zia, who had been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for the past 40 days, was declared dead by doctors at 6:00 am on Tuesday.

Widely known as the “uncompromising leader” following the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s, Khaleda Zia led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for 41 years. She was a five-time Member of Parliament, served three times as Prime Minister, and twice as Leader of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, the BNP has announced a seven-day mourning program centering on Khaleda Zia’s death. The announcement was made at a press conference held at 9:00 am on Tuesday (30 December) by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who formally confirmed her death.

He said Khaleda Zia’s passing has created a massive void in national politics.

As part of the seven-day program, BNP leaders and activists will observe mourning by wearing black badges and keeping party flags at half-mast. The program was announced at Evercare Hospital by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the schedule, the funeral prayer (janaza) of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will be held on Wednesday (31 December) after Zuhr prayers at the South Plaza of the National Parliament and the adjacent Manik Mia Avenue. After the janaza, she will be laid to rest beside Shaheed President and valiant freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman.

The details regarding the janaza and burial were confirmed on Tuesday (30 December) following a special meeting of the advisory council by Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul.