Dhaka, Dec. 31 -- Dhaka's Manik Mia Avenue has witnessed an unprecedented gathering since early Wednesday morning as mourners from across the country converged to attend the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's former prime minister.
The first arrivals began assembling around 7 am, with leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) streaming in from city as well as from districts including Feni, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj, where the party is strong.
Supporters, party workers and well-wishers gathered in solemn silence to pay their final respects to a leader who was part and parcel of Bangladesh's politics for more than three decades.
Begum Khaleda Zia, a polarising yet t...