Former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia will be accorded a state funeral in Dhaka, with funeral prayers scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday on Manik Mia Avenue, officials confirmed.
Khaleda Zia funeral timings and state honours
The Chief Advisor’s Office said the coffin will be placed at the west end of Manik Mia Avenue rather than the South Plaza of the Parliament. The statement, issued late Tuesday, said arrangements will cover the inner grounds of the Parliament, its outer premises and the entire stretch of Manik Mia Avenue to accommodate mourners and official delegations.
Funeral prayers are expected to follow Zuhr prayers, at around 2pm, with burial scheduled for about 3.30pm beside her husband, the late president and freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman. The burial will be conducted with state honours, the office added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police warned that traffic will remain restricted on several roads in the capital on Wednesday to facilitate the movement of the convoy carrying Ms Zia’s body. Authorities are urging motorists and residents in affected areas to seek alternative routes and to follow directions from police personnel deployed along the route.
Several foreign dignitaries are due to attend the funeral. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is travelling to Dhaka to represent the government and people of India, officials said. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also be present. Their attendance underscores the regional diplomatic attention surrounding the departure of a major political figure in Bangladesh.
Khaleda Zia, the longtime leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a three-time prime minister, died earlier on Tuesday in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80. Her death ends a long and often polarising career in Bangladeshi politics, during which she alternated in power with her rival, Sheikh Hasina.
Ms Zia’s political life was marked by both high office and controversy. She led the country through several terms as prime minister and remained a central figure in the BNP until her health declined. Her husband, Ziaur Rahman, a freedom fighter who later became president, was assassinated in 1981; Ms Zia will be laid to rest beside him in a burial that officials described as a national gesture of respect.
Officials have made logistical arrangements to manage the flow of mourners and delegations, including security on the Parliament grounds and along Manik Mia Avenue. The Chief Advisor’s Press Wing said the decision to position the coffin at the west end of the avenue was taken to better manage space and ceremonial requirements.
The presence of high-level foreign representatives reflects customary diplomatic practice on occasions of state funerals, allowing governments to pay respects and offer condolences. For India, Mr Jaishankar’s attendance is a formal recognition of the bilateral ties between the two neighbours at a moment of national mourning for Bangladesh.
Authorities have asked citizens to cooperate with security measures and to follow public guidance as Dhaka prepares to host large numbers of mourners and visiting delegations. Further updates on procession routes and access points will be provided by police and the Chief Advisor’s Office as required.
Key Takeaways:
- Khaleda Zia funeral prayers will be held at 2pm on Manik Mia Avenue, with burial beside her late husband with state honours.
- Arrangements cover the inner and outer grounds of the Parliament and the full stretch of Manik Mia Avenue; traffic restrictions will be in place.
- Foreign dignitaries including India’s S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will attend, signifying regional diplomatic participation.
