Dhaka has been placed under an extensive security lockdown ahead of the state funeral prayers for former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, scheduled for 2 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. More than 10,000 members of law enforcement, including police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, and the army, have been deployed across the capital under the supervision of the Home Ministry. Checkposts have been set up at key intersections, and traffic restrictions have been imposed along designated routes, including a planned green corridor for the funeral procession from Evercare Hospital.

Authorities have banned private drones and remote-controlled cameras near the venue, with high-tech jammers possibly in use to secure the airspace. Metal detectors and archways have been installed at all entry points, and attendees have been urged not to carry bags or heavy items. Senior officials said the heightened measures aim to ensure a peaceful and dignified farewell amid massive public turnout and emotional intensity.

Thousands of mourners from across the country have already arrived in Dhaka, turning the city into a solemn gathering place. Security forces remain on red alert until the burial is completed later in the day.

The body of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was taken from Evercare Hospital in Dhaka to her son’s residence at house number 196 in Gulshan on Wednesday morning around 9:15 a.m. A strong security presence surrounded the vehicle carrying her body. Her funeral prayer is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building and Manik Mia Avenue. Supporters and party members began gathering in the area from Tuesday night.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, at Evercare Hospital, at the age of 80. She had been receiving treatment there since November 23, with her condition described as extremely critical. Born on August 15, 1945, Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto.

The arrangements for her funeral and the large gathering of supporters indicate the significance of her political legacy in Bangladesh.

Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayers are scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon at the Parliament complex area in Dhaka. From early morning, large numbers of people from across the country, including Feni, Brahmanbaria, and Mymensingh, have been arriving to pay their final respects. Many mourners reached the site as early as 4 a.m., wearing black badges as a mark of mourning.

Security measures have been significantly tightened around the area. Authorities have restricted public access near the grave of Khaleda Zia’s husband, late President Ziaur Rahman, citing security reasons. According to reports, the government has announced that Khaleda Zia will be buried with state honors, and floral wreaths have already been prepared for the guard of honor.

The large public turnout and the state arrangements underscore the national significance of the event, as people from various districts continue to gather to bid farewell to the former leader.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threat of military action against Iran. In a post on social media platform X on December 30, Pezeshkian warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic would be met with a severe and regretful response.

Trump made the remarks a day earlier in Florida during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the United States would have no choice but to eliminate Iran if it tried to reorganize. He also suggested that any future U.S. strikes could be stronger than before. Analysts described this as Trump’s first open and direct military threat against Iran’s conventional missile program, a key element of the country’s defense policy.

The report recalled that in June, the United States joined an Israeli military operation targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump had then claimed Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within two months, a statement that contradicted assurances from the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian officials, who maintain that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and focused on energy and medical development.

Bangladesh has declared a three-day period of national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The mourning began on Wednesday and will continue until Friday, according to a Cabinet Division notification issued after an advisory council meeting on Tuesday. The government expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the three-time prime minister, describing her as a steadfast leader in the movement to restore democracy.

During the mourning period, national flags will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, educational establishments, and private buildings across the country, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad. On Friday, special prayers will be held in mosques for the forgiveness of her soul, and other religious institutions will also organize prayers for her peace.

Khaleda Zia had been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since November 23. Her condition had been critical, and after 40 days of treatment, doctors declared her dead at 6 a.m. on Tuesday at the age of 80.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a special resolution scheme for depositors of five troubled Islamic banks being merged into a new entity named Combined Islamic Bank. According to the circular issued on Tuesday, depositors can initially withdraw up to two lakh taka, while those with higher balances may withdraw one lakh taka every three months for up to two years. Term deposits cannot be encashed before maturity, and specific timelines have been set for repayment after maturity.

The five banks being merged are First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank. Bangladesh Bank stated that persistent irregularities, severe liquidity shortages, and high non-performing loans had crippled their operations. The merger and resolution scheme aim to safeguard depositors’ funds and restore financial stability. Institutional fixed deposits worth 15,000 crore taka will be converted into new bank shares, while depositors outside the financial sector may access loans or investments up to 20 percent of their deposit balance.

The central bank has set the new bank’s authorized capital at 40,000 crore taka and paid-up capital at 35,000 crore taka, with a seven-member board appointed to oversee operations.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia pursued an independent and balanced foreign policy outside India’s sphere of influence, according to diplomatic and political analysts cited by Amar Desh. They noted that she strengthened ties with the Muslim world and China while maintaining cordial relations with Western nations, particularly the United States. She also sought to avoid hostility with India and worked to build effective bilateral relations.

Experts including Professor M Shahiduzzaman, Professor Dilara Chowdhury, and former ambassador M Humayun Kabir said Khaleda Zia emphasized a “Look-East Policy” to deepen economic relations with China and ASEAN countries, while promoting active participation in regional and international organizations such as SAARC and OIC. Her foreign policy was described as anti-hegemonic, prioritizing national interest and mutual respect in regional relations.

Analysts added that during her tenure, Bangladesh expanded trade with India, opened the Tin Bigha corridor, and increased manpower exports to Muslim countries. They credited her with keeping Bangladesh off the U.S. list of terror-sponsoring nations in 2004, reflecting her success in maintaining balanced global relations.

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, a father and son are competing from different political parties in the Noakhali-6 (Hatiya) constituency, creating widespread discussion and curiosity in the area. On December 29, after the nomination submission deadline, it was confirmed that Amirul Islam Mohammad Abdul Malek filed his nomination under the Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) with the 'Ektara' symbol, while his son, Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), entered the race with the 'Shapla Koli' symbol.

Local residents and political observers described the dual candidacy as a strategic move rather than a coincidence. Some believe it could influence voter dynamics and shift focus from development issues to family-based power displays, potentially affecting democratic practices. A total of 14 candidates have submitted nominations for the seat, representing parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, JSD, Ganadhikar Parishad, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and LDP.

Abdul Hannan Masud stated that although he has been active in anti-fascist movements, this is his first electoral experience. He said he encouraged his father’s nomination, while Abdul Malek has not commented publicly.

A man named Ayub, aged 46, was arrested by joint forces in Khagrachhari on Tuesday night, December 30, while allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm. The arrest took place around 7:45 p.m. near the Agricultural Research Center area of the district town. Ayub is the son of the late Ishaq from Chandraghona in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram.

According to police, the operation was conducted based on secret intelligence regarding illegal arms trading. A patrol team from the 30 Bir Battalion of the Khagrachhari Sadar Zone, along with joint forces, carried out the raid and caught Ayub red-handed. Authorities recovered a pistol, two rounds of ammunition, and 4,000 taka in cash from his possession.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kay Kislu of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station confirmed the arrest and stated that preparations were underway to file a case against Ayub in connection with the incident.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled two influential leaders from Narayanganj for breaching party discipline. Former Member of Parliament Muhammad Giasuddin and BNP National Executive Committee member Shah Alam were removed from all party positions, including their primary memberships. The decision was announced on Tuesday, December 30, through a press release signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The statement cited their involvement in organizational activities defying party directives as the reason for expulsion.

According to party sources, BNP’s central leadership had instructed that no party leader should contest as an independent candidate in constituencies where the party or its alliance had already nominated candidates for the upcoming national election. Despite this, Giasuddin and Shah Alam submitted nomination papers as independent candidates for the Narayanganj-4 constituency on Monday. District BNP convener Professor Mamun Mahmud confirmed the expulsion, emphasizing that the move was necessary to maintain party discipline.

Following the decision, Shah Alam said he was not worried about being expelled but expressed sorrow that the decision came on a day of mourning for party members.

Popular Islamic scholar and speaker Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, December 30, he wrote that Khaleda Zia has completed her worldly journey and prayed for Allah to forgive her shortcomings, accept her good deeds, and make her a guest in paradise.

According to the report, Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been under treatment. She was 80 years old at the time of her death. The country’s Chief Adviser also expressed grief, describing her passing as the loss of a great guardian of the nation and conveying his deep sorrow.

The article notes that social media has been flooded with images and videos from Khaleda Zia’s funeral, reflecting widespread mourning across the country.

In Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila, the district executive magistrate fined representatives of BNP and Jamaat for violating the election code of conduct ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. On Monday, December 29, the magistrate, Mir Foysal Ali, imposed a fine of 20,000 taka on the representative of BNP’s nominated candidate Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan for gathering a large crowd in front of his residence before submitting nomination papers. Jamaat’s nominated candidate Anwarul Islam Raju’s representative was fined 5,000 taka for campaigning with the party symbol in Jagatber Union.

According to the mobile court, the fines were imposed under section 9(gha) of the Political Party and Candidate Code of Conduct 2025. Representatives of both parties paid the fines on behalf of their respective organizations. Patgram Police Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Haque was present during the operation.

The magistrate stated that both BNP and Jamaat were penalized for breaching the election code, emphasizing that the fines were settled by their local representatives.

Former three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, marking the end of a major chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. Her death cast a pall of grief over the nation’s sports community, which remembered her contributions to cricket’s global debut, football’s achievements, and the development of sports infrastructure. In her honor, all ongoing matches across the country were suspended.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bangladesh Football Federation, and Bangladesh Olympic Association led tributes, expressing deep sorrow and respect. The BFF described her as a lifelong influential political figure and a strong voice for humanity, while the BOA highlighted her role as Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and a key supporter of sports development. Numerous other federations—including hockey, athletics, tennis, swimming, and women’s sports organizations—issued condolence messages to her bereaved family.

Sports journalists’ associations and major clubs such as Mohammedan Sporting Club also joined in mourning, reflecting the widespread respect Khaleda Zia commanded across Bangladesh’s sporting landscape.

The Officers’ Association of BMET has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The condolence message, signed by the association’s president Md Masud Rana, was issued to the media on Tuesday. The statement described Khaleda Zia as an unforgettable figure in Bangladesh’s political history and praised her contributions to restoring democracy, strengthening the multiparty system, and safeguarding the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The message further highlighted her uncompromising leadership, determination, and courage throughout a long political career marked by adversity. It noted that her struggle for people’s voting rights and democratic freedoms would continue to inspire the nation. The association also acknowledged her administrative experience, political wisdom, and patriotic stance as vital to Bangladesh’s political progress.

On behalf of the BMET Officers’ Association, prayers were offered for the departed soul, and heartfelt sympathy was extended to her bereaved family, party members, and admirers.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has announced a general holiday on Wednesday across all garment factories in the country following the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon through a press release issued by BGMEA Acting Secretary Major Md. Saiful Islam (Retd). The statement said Khaleda Zia, a three-time former prime minister, passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The government has declared three days of national mourning and one day of public holiday in her honor.

BGMEA said it agreed with the government’s decision and requested all member factories to observe a one-day general holiday on Wednesday. In a condolence message, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan expressed deep sorrow, describing Khaleda Zia’s death as an irreparable loss for the nation and the garment industry community. The association prayed for the departed soul and extended sympathy to her bereaved family.

The government’s declaration of national mourning and BGMEA’s observance reflect the widespread respect for Khaleda Zia’s political legacy and leadership.