Last journey to Bangabhaban

A car carrying late president Zillur Rahman’s body crosses Karwan Bazar area as the veteran politician makes his final journey to Bangabhaban, the official residence of the president, Thursday. His body was flown back home from Singapore in the noon. Photo: Palash Khan.

A little over four years ago, Bangabhaban was decorated to welcome him as the guardian of the nation. There was celebration, people from many walks of life stood up with smile to greet the honest, veteran politician. Now they are there again, this time to see him off as Zillur Rahman starts a journey from where no-one comes back.
Draped in a national flag and put in a car decorated with flowers, the body of the late president reached Bangabhaban Thursday afternoon.

Members from the armed forces offer guard of honour to late president Zillur Rahman after his body was taken to Bangabhaban. Thursday afternoon. Photo: TV grab.

Hundreds of people lined up besides the Airport Road to pay tribute to Rahman as a motorcade carrying his body was being taken to Bangabhaban from the Shahjalal International Airport.
The body of the eighty-four-year-old veteran politician arrived at the airport around the noon, a day after he breathed his last at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd brought back the body.
His coffin was brought down from the aircraft around 12:10pm.
Ten generals of Bangladesh Armed Forces carried the coffin to a makeshift dais.
Acting president and Speaker of the Parliamentary Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the president placing wreaths.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talks with dignitaries at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Photo: TV grab

Family members of the president, cabinet members, ministers and lawmakers were also present there to pay homage to the president.
Rahman’s first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Hazi Asmat College in Bhairab at 9:00am on Friday, said the President’s Press Secretary AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan.
The late president’s body will be flown by a helicopter on Friday morning.
The second janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 3:30pm Friday.
The body will be kept at the mortuary of Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka before being flown to Bhairab, according to sources of Prime Minister’s office.