Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayer held in Bangladesh amid tight security
Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia's funeral prayers were held on Wednesday amid tight security.
The funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) was held at the Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the funeral prayers while Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief biography of Zia.
Zia, who dominated Bangladesh's politics for decades, died on Tuesday in Dhaka.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and Khaleda Zia's son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the funeral prayers along with foreign dignitaries, advisers of the interim government, leaders of different political parties and senior government and military officials.
"Please pray to Allah seeking her place in heaven," Zia’s elder son, Rahman, told the crowd ahead of the prayers.
Millions of people joined namaz-e-janaza of Zia, three-time Prime Minister and political icon of Bangladesh.
Mourners from all walks of life offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Zia as they burst into tears, being emotional with the passing of their beloved leader.
The national flag-draped coffin of Zia was placed at the west end of Manik Mia Avenue. After the funeral prayers, Zia will be laid to eternal rest beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's grave in the city with state honour while the general public will not be allowed during the burial as there will be an elaborate state funeral ceremony.
Zia’s appearance as a public figure in the political arena at the age of 35 was not a planned debut; rather, she was thrust into politics after the 1981 assassination of her husband, a military ruler turned politician who founded BNP in 1978.
But she broke through a male-dominated political landscape and transformed into one of the region’s most formidable leaders, though as a housewife she was a reserved presence alongside her famous husband.
She took up Rahman’s mantle, steadily learnt the art of politics and leadership and gained a nationwide following with her uncompromising stance against the military dictatorship, maintaining her widely acknowledged kindheartedness.
The funeral prayer for Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a three-time former Prime Minister, was held today, Wednesday, at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus attended the funeral prayer of Begum… pic.twitter.com/YmgYnMPVDS
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 31, 2025
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Fire in coach of New Delhi-Chennai express train; no casualty
Nagpur (PTI): A coach of the New Delhi-Chennai Grant Trunk Express caught fire in Maharashtra's Wardha district on Tuesday morning, railway officials said.
There were no casualties, they said.
Train 12616 New Delhi-Chennai (Tambaram) Grant Trunk Express left from Nagpur in the morning. While it was heading towards Sindi railway station in Wardha, smoke was detected in the last guard coach of the train at 11.09 am, Central Railway spokesperson Sanjay Muley told PTI.
The train was stopped on the Sindi-Tuljapur section, the affected coach was detached immediately, and the fire brigade was called, he said.
All passengers in the train and the coach concerned were safe, the official said.
The cause of the fire will be known after a detailed investigation.
The train will resume its journey in some time without the affected coach, the official added.
