Subhechcha Ganguly 
Bangladesh is set to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Wednesday, following her death on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.
According to officials, Zia’s body will be kept overnight at the Evercare Hospital mortuary and will be taken to her Gulshan residence in Feroza on Wednesday morning. The funeral will be held in Dhaka after Zohr prayers, the country’s Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said.
“My mother is no more,” said Tarique Rahman, her elder son and the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), confirming her demise on Tuesday morning.
As per local media reports, the funeral prayers will take place at the Parliament’s South Plaza and the adjoining Manik Mia Avenue. The Daily Star reported that the namaz-e-janaza is scheduled for 2:00 pm, with a large gathering of mourners expected.
Several national and international dignitaries are likely to attend the funeral, including India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Following the funeral, Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her husband, former Bangladesh President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, with full state honours, Asif Nazrul added.
