United News of Bangladesh

Hundreds of thousands of people on Wednesday offered prayers at Manik Mia Avenue as the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held, bidding her a final farewell amid waves of grief. Renowned Islamic scholar and Baitul Mukarrom Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek led the namaz-e-janaza at 3:02pm Dhaka stands still as Khaleda’s coffin being taken to Manik Mia Avenue  Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, interim government advisers, BNP leaders, leaders of other political parties, and the chiefs of the three services joined the janaza. Foreign dignitaries, including representatives from India, Pakistan, and other South and Southeast Asian countries, were also present. Khaleda Zia’s body was taken to a temporary stage set up at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad around 2:45pm. Later, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief life sketch of Khaleda Zia on behalf of the party. Khaleda Zia’s body taken to Tarique Rahman’s Gulshan residence He explained the circumstances that led her to enter politics and highlighted her long struggle for democracy, her unwavering commitment to democratic values and her deep patriotism. He also recalled her contributions to the country and urged everyone to pray for her departed soul. At around 2:58pm, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman delivered a short address to the gathering, requesting people to forgive his mother if she had hurt anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, at any time in her life. He said if Khaleda Zia owed anything to anyone, they should inform him and he would make arrangements to repay it. People from across the country thronged Manik Mia Avenue, Khamar Bari, Bijoy Sarani, Asad Gate, Karwan Bazar and surrounding areas. Around 11:50 am, a freezer-van draped in the red-and-green national flag, carrying Khaleda Zia’s body, arrived at the avenue from the Gulshan Avenue residence of her elder son, Tarique Rahman. A multi-layered security arrangement was in place around Manik Mia Avenue to maintain law and order as thousands of mourners gathered. Members of the army, police, RAB, BGB, and other law enforcement agencies remained deployed throughout the event. After the janaza, she will be laid to rest beside her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, where a grave has been prepared next to his. Despite the biting winter cold, people from across the country arrived in the capital from early morning to attend the janaza and pay their respects. Crowds were also seen overnight near the National Parliament area, Evercare Hospital, the Gulshan office, and Firoza. Khaleda Zia, a three-time Prime Minister, passed away at Evercare Hospital at around 6:00 am on Tuesday (December 30) after receiving treatment for more than a month.  

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said BNP made false allegations over what happened while placing their floral wreath at Shaheed Minar along with anti-liberation forces and the persons who were against the language. He made this comment in response to questions from journalists over Mirza Fakhrul's complaint at the meeting room of his ministry at the Secretariat in the capital. Read more: Ansar al-Islam threatens to bomb Amar Ekushey Boi Mela "It is a false allegation. Last year, we placed wreaths after them (BNP) and it took over three and a half hours. And this year, we stood in silence for 30 seconds after paying tributes and then left. BNP started late when the Shaheed Minar was crowded. No one obstructed them," Hasan Mahmud said. In fact, "BNP doesn't have the spirit of Amar Ekushey or the Liberation War. They talk about 21st February and the spirit of the Liberation War but they do politics with the anti-liberation forces who tried to do so-called Islamization of the language by introducing Bengali writing in Arabic alphabet and banned Rabindranath's songs in East Bengal," he said. Read more: BNP pays homage to Language Movement martyrs Replying to another query over Begum Khaleda Zia, Hasan Mahmud said if any person is convicted for more than two years, he or she cannot take part in the election as per the law of the country. As she was sentenced for more than two years. So, there is no question of her participation in the election, he added. In addition, the government has given her conditional permission to stay home considering her health and age. As per the condition, she can not do politics, he added. Read more: Khaleda has no chance to do politics as convict: Quader Earlier, the minister unveiled covers of five books at the meeting room and congratulated the writers. The books are 'Bangabandhur Jiban and Shilpa Bhabna' written by Sowmithra Dev, 'Sheikh Hasina ekti Kaljoyee Upakkhyan' and 'Sheikh Rehana ek Dipto Shikha' written by Shamima Sultana, Swapno Loker Nadi and 'HIV-Aids Risk and 'Gender Relation: Women Sex Worker in Bangladesh' written by deputy secretary of the information ministry Dr Sheikh Muslima Moon.

Regarding various statements made by BNP leaders about Begum Khaleda Zia's illness, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said Sheikh Hasina had suspended Begum Zia's sentence because of her humanity. He said this while addressing a discussion meeting organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day on Bangabandhu Avenue this morning. He questioned the BNP leaders and said it is not humanity? Also read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor Obaidul Quader further said that the BNP leaders did not even appreciate this humanity. Obaidul Quader said the BNP has become a world champion in the politics of revenge with observance of Khaleda Zia's fake birthday by cutting a cake on the day of Bangabandhu's assassination on August 15.  Quader also said that there is no one else who has created this record. He remarked that Bangladesh will be able to move forward at a relentless pace in the quest for development and prosperity by tackling the Corona crisis. Referring to Sheikh Hasina as the most honest, courageous and humane leader in post-75 Bangladesh, Obaidul Quader said Bangabandhu's Bangladesh is a wonder of the world today under the farsighted leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Mentioning that Sheikh Hasina has been successfully leading the party for the last four decades as a symbol of unity of the Awami League, the General Secretary of the Awami League said that Sheikh Hasina has come a long way and stood on the rubble and repeatedly triumphed over life. Also read: ‘Vindictive politics’ behind govt’s negative decision on Khaleda: BNP Noting that Bangladesh has evolved from a least developed country to a developing country today with the return of Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader said it is another golden feather in the crown of Sheikh Hasina's success. Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League President Sadek Khan presided over the meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue while Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary Mahbubul Haque Hanif, organisational secretary Mirza Azam also spoke among others.