Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, will be laid to rest in Dhaka today (Wednesday). Her funeral prayers will be offered in front of the Parliament House in Dhaka.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq will represent Pakistan at her funeral prayers.

Following Khaleda Zia’s death, the Bangladeshi government has announced three days of national mourning.

Khaleda Zia will be buried with full state honours beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman.

She had been suffering from multiple illnesses, including a liver ailment, and had been under treatment at a hospital in Dhaka for a long time. She passed away on Tuesday.

Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and also held the distinction of being the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.

She served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.

Officials from India, Bhutan and the Maldives are also expected to attend her funeral prayers.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday reached in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayers of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia.

Upon his arrival at Dhaka International Airport, the Speaker was received by senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission, said a news release.

Ayaz Sadiq is attending the funeral on the special instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and will represent Pakistan at the funeral ceremony.

After offering funeral prayers, the Speaker will also express condolences to the bereaved family of Begum Khaleda Zia.

During his visit, he is scheduled to hold meetings with senior officials of the interim government of Bangladesh as well.