A massive funeral prayer for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday at 3:03 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka. The event drew an unprecedented crowd, with people filling Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding areas for several kilometers. Many who could not find space joined the prayer from nearby metro rail stations and rooftops of residential buildings. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, members of the advisory council, chiefs of the three armed forces, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior party leaders, and foreign diplomats attended the funeral.

Eyewitnesses reported that the entire area around the Parliament complex, including adjacent streets and alleys, was packed with mourners. Residents were seen praying from their rooftops and offering prayers for Khaleda Zia. Before the prayer concluded, Tarique Rahman delivered a brief address, asking forgiveness for any hurt his mother may have caused and requesting prayers for her soul.

The funeral was described as one of the largest in recent memory, reflecting Khaleda Zia’s enduring influence and the deep public sentiment surrounding her passing.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayer drew millions of people from across Bangladesh to Dhaka on Wednesday. The prayer took place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where mourners filled surrounding areas including Manik Mia Avenue, Farmgate, Shahbagh, Khamarbari, and Bijoy Sarani. After the ceremony, large crowds were seen walking back to their destinations due to traffic restrictions and the absence of vehicles.

Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. Known as a prominent voice against Indian dominance, she was remembered by supporters and citizens who traveled from various regions to pay their last respects. The funeral site turned into a gathering point for people expressing opposition to fascism and foreign influence.

The massive turnout reflected the deep affection and respect many held for the former leader, marking one of the largest public gatherings in recent memory in Dhaka.

The funeral prayer of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday at 3:03 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka. The event drew millions of people, marking one of the largest gatherings in recent memory. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, members of the Advisory Council, chiefs of the three armed forces, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior party leaders, and foreign diplomats attended the prayer.

Before the prayer, her son and acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed the crowd, asking forgiveness for any pain his mother might have caused and requesting prayers for her. The prayer was led by the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Crowds filled not only Manik Mia Avenue but also nearby streets, rooftops, and metro stations to participate.

India sent a condolence message through its Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who handed it to Tarique Rahman at the Parliament complex. Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Dhaka to pay respects, as confirmed by the Pakistan High Commission.

Thousands of people gathered in Dhaka on Wednesday, December 31, to attend the funeral prayer of Begum Khaleda Zia at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. From early morning, mourners from across the country filled Manik Mia Avenue and surrounding areas, creating a human sea that extended several kilometers. The streets around the venue were paralyzed as people stood in lines, many with tears in their eyes, praying silently for the late leader.

Observers described the turnout as unprecedented, reflecting the deep affection and respect Khaleda Zia commanded across political divides. Elderly citizens compared the scene to the 1981 funeral of President Ziaur Rahman, noting the emotional resonance of history repeating itself. Attendees included people from all walks of life—workers, students, professionals, and party supporters—while rooftops and sidewalks overflowed with mourners.

Diplomatic representatives from 32 countries, including ministers from India, Bhutan, and Nepal, attended the ceremony. Thousands of women also paid their respects from nearby areas, many wearing black badges as a sign of mourning for Bangladesh’s first female prime minister.

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in Dhaka on Wednesday at the residence of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to pay their final respects. According to Geo News, this was the first such meeting between senior officials of the two countries since their conflict in May 2025.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. India had blamed Pakistan for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied. Following the attack, India launched strikes inside Pakistan, prompting retaliatory action from Islamabad. The confrontation ended after a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

The Dhaka meeting, marked by a cordial handshake between the two leaders, symbolized a rare moment of contact between the neighboring nations after months of tension.

Cox’s Bazar district police have announced seven restrictions to maintain law and order during the 2026 English New Year celebrations. The measures will be in effect from the evening of December 31 to the evening of January 1. According to a police statement issued on December 30, fireworks, firecrackers, and sky lanterns are completely banned in the city and beach areas. Sales and marketing of such items are also prohibited to prevent accidents. Public concerts, dances, and entertainment events in open spaces or on roads are not allowed, and all bars and liquor shops must suspend alcohol sales during the restriction period.

Police have urged everyone to refrain from spreading rumors, propaganda, or provocative content on social media, warning that such actions could harm communal harmony and public order. Additional restrictions include bans on loud horns, vehicle races, joyrides, and reckless driving. Authorities have also taken a strict stance against harassment of female tourists. Hotel and motel operators have been asked to inform the district police’s special branch about indoor events and suspicious individuals.

District police spokesperson Alok Biswas stated that the restrictions aim to ensure safety for tourists and residents, with heightened police vigilance across the city.

Police in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka have arrested another suspect in the murder of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das, 27. Authorities said the arrested youth, Nirab Islam, 20, allegedly led the act of hanging and burning the victim’s body after the killing. He was identified through video footage analysis and detained from Cheragali area in Tongi, Gazipur, on Tuesday afternoon. With this arrest, the total number of detainees in the case has reached 19.

According to police, Nirab Islam, a knitting operator at Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Ltd, had been absent from work since the incident. Investigators conducted multiple operations in Netrakona, Dhaka’s Banani, and Gazipur before locating him. Police plan to seek a seven-day remand for interrogation. Earlier, 18 suspects were arrested, of whom 12 were remanded for three days and six for two days; five have given confessional statements in court.

The murder occurred on December 18 in Dubaliapara area of Habirbari union, where Dipu was beaten to death following allegations of religious defamation. His body was later hung from a tree and set on fire near the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway. Dipu’s brother filed a case naming 140 to 150 unidentified persons.

Former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital on Tuesday morning after 38 days of treatment. The 80-year-old leader had been admitted on November 23 with respiratory distress and multiple chronic health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney issues. Despite continuous medical care, her condition deteriorated, and she died at 6 a.m.

Family and party sources said arrangements were made to transfer her abroad for advanced treatment, but the medical board advised against it due to the risks of long-distance travel. The government declared her a special important person to ensure maximum medical and security support. A team of local and international specialists, including doctors from the United States and the United Kingdom, oversaw her treatment.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 and regularly visited his mother at the hospital. On the night before her death, family members and senior BNP leaders gathered at her bedside before leaving around 2 a.m., hours before the nation learned of her passing.

Indian Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. In a message posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, December 30, Gandhi said he was deeply saddened by her passing and acknowledged her significant role in Bangladesh’s political journey.

According to the report, Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80 years old at the time of her death. Her funeral prayer is scheduled to be held on Wednesday after the noon prayer at the National Parliament area and Manik Mia Avenue, after which she will be buried beside her late husband and former president Ziaur Rahman.

Gandhi also extended his heartfelt condolences to Khaleda Zia’s family, supporters, and the people of Bangladesh during this time of mourning.

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Later that day, he met BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the National Parliament building to convey his condolences. The meeting was confirmed through a post on the BNP’s official Facebook page.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman’s daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, and other party leaders were present. Earlier, at 11:50 a.m., Sardar Ayaz Sadiq landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as Pakistan’s representative, where he was received by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh and senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit underscores Pakistan’s official representation at the funeral of the late BNP leader and reflects continued diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

India has expressed deep respect following the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. On Wednesday, December 31, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar handed over an official condolence message from the Government of India to BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the National Parliament complex in Dhaka.

In the message, India described Khaleda Zia as a 'symbol of courage and struggle' and honored her unwavering commitment to Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. Dr. Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka earlier that day at 11:55 a.m. on a special Indian Air Force flight and was received at the Bashar Air Base by Foreign Ministry Secretary M. Forhad Hossain, along with Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranab Verma.

Khaleda Zia, who served as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister three times, passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday, December 30, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

The funeral prayer for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building and Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka. The prayer was led by Mufti Abdul Malek, Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram. Crowds of supporters and citizens began gathering at the site from Tuesday night, and by midday Wednesday, the area was filled with people from all walks of life. Khaleda Zia will be buried beside the grave of late President Ziaur Rahman at 3 p.m.

Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, at the age of 80. She had been under treatment there since November 23 due to critical health complications. Born on August 15, 1945, Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and the second woman in the Muslim world to hold such a position after Benazir Bhutto.

Her funeral marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s political history, as she was a central figure in the country’s leadership for decades.

The funeral prayer of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday afternoon. At around 3 p.m., her son and the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, delivered a brief address to the nation. He introduced himself as Khaleda Zia’s eldest son and requested that anyone from whom his late mother might have taken a loan contact him so that he could arrange repayment.

Tarique Rahman also sought forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh on behalf of his mother if anyone had ever been hurt by her words or actions. He concluded his remarks by asking everyone to pray for Khaleda Zia’s eternal peace and for Allah to grant her a place in paradise.

The event marked a solemn moment for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its supporters as they bid farewell to their long-time leader.

Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser with the rank of State Minister at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has resigned from his position. A government notification issued on Tuesday night confirmed that the President accepted his resignation.

According to the Cabinet Division’s circular, Dr. Rahman had been exercising executive authority equivalent to a State Minister within the interim government’s Health and Family Welfare Ministry. His resignation marks a change within the advisory team of the interim administration.

The report notes that in November of the previous year, Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus appointed three Special Assistants with the rank of State Minister. Dr. Rahman was one of those appointees.

The funeral prayer of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka, drawing millions of mourners. The event saw a massive turnout across surrounding areas, including the South Plaza of the National Parliament, Sobhanbag, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, and Shyamoli. Khaleda Zia had passed away on Tuesday, December 30, at Evercare Hospital in the capital after more than a month of treatment.

Interim government cultural affairs adviser and filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki described the farewell as “historic” in a Facebook post. He compared the public response to that of the funeral of President Ziaur Rahman, saying the nation had once again shown deep respect. Farooki noted that the vast crowd symbolized the gratitude of the Bangladeshi people, something that not everyone receives.

The funeral was attended by the chief adviser, heads of the three armed forces, diplomats, and leaders from various political parties, marking a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political history.