The body of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was taken to the Gulshan residence of her eldest son, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday morning.

Around 9:15am, the flag-draped hearse carrying Khaleda Zia’s body reached house No. 196 in Gulshan from Evercare Hospital.

Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman are staying at the house. Also present were the wife of Khaleda Zia’s younger son, the late Arafat Rahman Koko—Syeda Shamila Rahman Sithi—and their two daughters, Jahia Rahman and Jafia Rahman.

Among other family members present were Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Shamim Eskandar and his wife Kaniz Fatema, her younger sister Selima Islam, Nasrin Eskandar—the wife of her late brother Sayeed Eskandar—and other close relatives. Zubaida Rahman’s mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu and her elder sister Shahina Jaman Khan were also there.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed were also present at the residence.

After being evicted from her cantonment residence on November 13, 2010 during the Awami League regime, Khaleda Zia moved to her Gulshan residence ‘Feroza’. Her son Tarique Rahman returned from the UK last week after spending over a decade and a half in exile and moved into the adjacent house No. 196.

The house was originally allotted to Khaleda Zia following the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman. A few months ago, the ownership documents of the house were formally handed over to the BNP chairperson by Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and RAJUK Chairman Riaz-ul-Islam Rizu.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police said vehicular movement will remain restricted on several roads on Wednesday to facilitate the transportation of Khaleda Zia’s coffin. The affected routes include areas around Evercare Hospital, July 36 Expressway, Kuril Flyover, Naval Headquarters, Gulshan-2, Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Airport Road, Mohakhali Flyover, Jahangir Gate, Bijoy Sarani and Aircraft Crossing.

Khaleda Zia’s namaz-e-janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers at Manik Mia Avenue, where her coffin will be placed at the western end of the avenue.

The Chief Adviser’s Office said the janaza will be held across the inner and outer premises of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and the entire Manik Mia Avenue, with special arrangements for women wishing to participate.

After the janaza, Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest with state honours beside the grave of her husband, BNP founder and martyred President Ziaur Rahman, at around 3:30pm.

Popularly known as the “Uncompromising Leader” for her role in the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s, Khaleda Zia led the BNP for 41 years. She served as a five-time Member of Parliament, three-time Prime Minister and two-time Leader of the Opposition.