A civic memorial meeting in honour of former BNP chairperson and former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, began shortly after 2:30pm today at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman attended the event along with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Shamila Rahman, wife of Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman, and other family members were also present.

Senior BNP leaders, including members of the party's standing committee, joined the programme.

Diplomats from various countries stationed in Bangladesh also attended the event.

Entry to the venue was restricted to invited guests only, with invitation cards sent in advance.

Members of various law enforcement agencies, including the army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, and Ansar, have been deployed to ensure security.

Bangladesh's first female prime minister and a lasting political icon, Khaleda Zia, died on December 30 last year in a Dhaka hospital after a long bout of health complications.

The 79-year-old BNP chief had been suffering from a number of complications for a long time.

She was laid to rest at Zia Udyan with state honours the following day.