United News of Bangladesh

The body of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was taken to the Gulshan Avenue residence of her elder son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from Evercare Hospital on Wednesday morning. A freezer-van wrapped in the red-and-green national flag, carrying the BNP chief’s body, left Evercare Hospital at around 8:55am and reached Tarique Rahman’s residence at House No-196 on Gulshan Avenue at about 9:16am amid tight security. Earlier, Khaleda Zia’s body was kept at the hospital mortuary overnight. Soon after the body arrived, senior BNP leaders, including party Secretary General Mirza Abbas Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Selima Rahman, reached the residence.  Tarique Rahman was seen sitting quietly inside the house, reciting from the Holy Quran. From early morning, a large number of party leaders, activists and ordinary people gathered on the roads around the residence and nearby Firoza, Khaleda Zia’s own house, to pay their last respects. Many stood silently, while others were seen praying. Security was tightened in and around the Gulshan area following the arrival of the body.  Members of the army, police, RAB, BGB and other law-enforcement agencies were deployed. Barricades were set up and vehicle movement on parts of Gulshan Avenue was restricted. Family members, close relatives and party leaders will pay their final respects to Khaleda Zia at Tarique’s Gulshan residence. From there, her body will be taken to the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, where her namaz-e-janaza will be held at 2:00pm. Khaleda’s death: Bangladesh observing state mourning, general holiday After the janaza, she will be laid to rest beside the grave of her husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.  A grave has already been prepared next to Ziaur Rahman’s tomb. Despite the biting winter cold, people from different parts of the country have been arriving in the capital since early morning to attend the janaza and pay tribute.  Crowds were also seen overnight at the National Parliament area, Evercare Hospital, the Gulshan office and Firoza. Several foreign dignitaries, including representatives from India, Pakistan and other South and Southeast Asian countries, are expected to attend the funeral prayers. Khaleda Zia, a three-time Prime Minister, passed away at Evercare Hospital at around 6:00am on Tuesday (December 30) after receiving treatment for more than a month.