Dhaka, Dec. 31 -- Braving biting winter cold and dense fog, thousands of mourners converged on Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday to offer final prayers for former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, turning the capital into a sea of grief, remembrance and quiet reverence.

People from different parts of the country began arriving in Dhaka from the early hours of the morning to attend the namaz-e-janaza, defying severe winter conditions and thick fog.

The namaz-e-janaza is scheduled to be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, to be led by the Khatib of the National Mosque, Baitul Mukarram, Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek.

From dawn, groups of mourners were seen travelling to the capital to pay their final respects.

Large crowds gathered around the Jatiya S...