Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest with full state honours beside her husband, late president Ziaur Rahman, on Wednesday, following the largest janaza in Bangladesh’s history.

Amid tears and prayers, millions of supporters and admirers bade a final farewell to their beloved leader, as the capital bore witness to an extraordinary outpouring of grief rarely seen before.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to attend the namaz-e-janaza.

The janaza was held at 3:00pm on Manik Mia Avenue, where an ocean of mourners gathered under the open sky.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, chiefs of the three armed forces, Khaleda Zia’s elder son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, advisers to various ministries, political leaders including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir Shafiqur Rahman, National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam, as well as diplomats and foreign dignitaries joined the vast gathering..

The janaza was led by national mosque Baitul Mukarram khatib Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek.

From early morning, waves of people began streaming towards the venue, many travelling long distances to attend what they described as a final act of love and loyalty to a leader they revered.

By noon, Manik Mia Avenue and its surrounding areas were completely overwhelmed by the crowd.

Mourners filled the National Parliament complex, Manik Mia Avenue, Bijoy Sarani, Agargaon, Asad Gate, Mirpur Road, Sobhanbagh, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Jahangir Gate.

With roads packed beyond capacity, people were seen offering prayers from rooftops, balconies and flyovers, some weeping openly as the prayers concluded.

Ahead of the prayers, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan delivered a written address recalling Khaleda Zia’s life and legacy.

He spoke of her birth and family background, her marriage to martyred president Ziaur Rahman, and her rise from a reluctant political figure to one of the most powerful women in the nation’s history.

In a brief but deeply emotional address, Tarique Rahman stood before the crowd and sought forgiveness on behalf of his late mother.

‘I am Tarique Rahman, the elder son of the late Begum Khaleda Zia,’ he said.

‘If she owed anything to anyone during her lifetime, please contact me and I will arrange repayment, Inshallah. If anyone was hurt by her words or actions, I seek forgiveness on her behalf. Please pray that Allah grants her Jannah,’ Tarique said.

Khaleda Zia’s body was brought to Manik Mia Avenue at 11:50am.

Earlier in the morning, it was taken from Evercare Hospital to Gulshan.

Although it had initially been announced that her body would be taken to her long-time residence, Firoza, the plan was later changed, and the hearse was taken instead to Tarique Rahman’s residence at house number 196 in Gulshan.

Wrapped in the red and green national flag, her body was then carried to the south plaza of the National Parliament complex before being taken to the front of the the janaza venue.

Following the janaza, her burial was completed at Zia Udyan in the capital. The burial process began at around 4:15pm beside the grave of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman.

In a profoundly moving moment, Tarique was the first to descend into the grave and personally laid his mother to rest.

During the burial process, Tarique Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman’s wife Shamila Rahman, along with her elder daughter Zahia Rahman and younger daughter Zafira Rahman, family members, senior BNP leaders, and leaders of various political parties stood in mourning and paid their respects.

Khaleda Zia was given a guard of honour under the supervision of the President Guard Regiment before her burial.

After the burial, on behalf of the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, his military secretary Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tariq placed a wreath at Khaleda Zia’s grave.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6:00am on Tuesday, after undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital for 37 days.

She was admitted to the hospital on November 23, and after examinations, doctors confirmed that she had developed a lung infection.

The 80-year-old leader had long been suffered from multiple health conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney complications and eye problems.