Dhaka: The body of Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, who died at a Singapore hospital, was laid to rest on Friday with full state honours, marking the end of a political era. Army guards accorded a 21-gun salute as an Islamic cleric recited holy verses when the body was lowered to the grave in tribute to the late president, who enjoyed respect from across the political spectrum.
85-year-old Rahman was a close associate of the nation's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Nazmul Hassan Papan, MP, laid his father to his eternal rest at Banani graveyard, with hundreds of people including his family members, long-time political associates and government officials in attendance.
Rahman died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Tuesday while undergoing treatment. He took office as the 19th president of Bangladesh on February 12, 2009, after being elected unopposed. Rahman was laid to rest on the same grave where his wife Ivy Rahman was buried nine years ago after her death in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on a political rally apparently targeting Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, currently the Prime Minister of the country.
Acting President and Parliament speaker Abdul Hamid, on behalf of the Prime Minister, her military secretary, ministers, lawmakers, political leaders, members of three services and foreign envoys placed the wreaths on the grave and stood in solemn silence for two minutes.
Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of main opposition BNP, also paid her last respect to the late president. Hamid at the end of the ceremony handed over the national flag which previously wrapped the presidential coffin to Rahman's son.
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