The funeral prayer of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 pm, officials confirmed.
The coffin of former prime minister Zia will be placed at the west end of Manik Mia Avenue rather than the South Plaza of the Parliament, the Chief Advisor’s Office said on Tuesday.
In a statement issued at 11:46 pm on Tuesday, the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing said, "the funeral prayers for Zia will be held on Wednesday after Zuhr, around 2pm, on Manik Mia Avenue," bdnews24 reported.
The statement added that arrangements for the funeral will cover the inner grounds of the Parliament, its outer premises, and the entire stretch of Manik Mia Avenue.
Following the funeral, Khaleda will be laid to rest with state honours at approximately 3:30 pm beside her husband, slain president and freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman.
Traffic will remain restricted on several roads in the capital on Wednesday due to the movement of the convoy carrying Zia’s body, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Zia, the longtime chief of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a three-time prime minister, passed away earlier in the day in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80.
Foreign dignitaries, including Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, will attend Zia's funeral.
An official statement said, "Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral, for which he will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday."
