The authorities did not make any arrangement for the former prime minister to see the bodies, saying that the programme was a military ceremony only, AL leaders said.

However, about a hundred civilians including Awami League (AL) leader Tofail Ahmed and Krishak Sramik Janata League chief Kader Siddiqi MP joined the namaj-e-janaza of the peacekeepers at the stadium.

On Monday, the AL had sent a letter to the Army Headquarters requesting for arrangements to facilitate the opposition leader to pay her respect to the UN peacekeepers killed in a militia ambush in Congo on Friday.

As the Army Headquarters did not respond, AL leader Col (retd) Faruk Khan contacted Major General Reza Noor, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, late Monday to have the army authorities' reply.

"He (Reza Noor) told me that Tuesday's programme at the Army Stadium is nothing but a military ceremony and the leader of the opposition's joining the ceremony is not possible," Faruk Khan told The Daily Star yesterday.

"I asked whether the countrymen have no right to pay tribute to the national heroes who sacrificed their lives for world peace, Reza Noor replied that the armed forces acted as per government instructions," said the AL leader.

Faruk Khan, a retired army officer turned politician, however joined the namaj-e-janaza at Army Stadium and placed wreaths on the coffins of the peacekeepers on behalf of the opposition leader.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to the AL chief, said the main opposition totally agreed with the government decision to observe Tuesday as national mourning day, but barring people from joining the ceremony has damaged the spirit of the day.

"The leader of the opposition was keen to visit the bodies and show respect to the peacekeepers, but she was not allowed by the government," Saber told The Daily Star.

He accused the government of instructing the Army Headquarters to bar Hasina from attending the Army Stadium ceremony.

Officials of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) could not be contacted for their comments on the matter.