Bangladesh has announced a three-day national mourning period to honor former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away, and will hold a state funeral in recognition of her service to the country.
Bangladesh Declares Three Days of Mourning, Honors Former PM Khaleda Zia with State Funeral
On Wednesday, Bangladesh will hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, drawing large crowds to honor a prominent leader whose political influence spanned decades.
Zia, the country’s first female prime minister in the 170-million-strong nation, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80.
“Khaleda Zia has always been a source of inspiration,” homemaker Sharmina Siraj told AFP, adding that “it’s hard to imagine women taking on leadership roles in the near future.”
The 40-year-old mother of two highlighted Zia’s initiatives to support girls’ education through stipends, saying, “This had a profound effect on our daughters’ lives. To me, this stands out as her greatest achievement.”
Despite long periods of ill health and imprisonment, Zia had pledged to participate in the elections scheduled for February 12 — the first vote since a mass uprising removed her longtime rival, Sheikh Hasina, last year.
Her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is considered a leading contender, with her son Tarique Rahman, 60, returning just last week after 17 years in exile, seen as a potential prime minister should the BNP secure a majority.
The interim government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, announced three days of national mourning, with an elaborate state funeral commencing with prayers outside the parliament around 2 p.m. (0800 GMT).
Flags will fly at half-mast, and heavy security will be deployed throughout Dhaka.
Yunus described Bangladesh as having “lost a great guardian,” noting in a statement: “Her steadfast leadership repeatedly rescued the nation from undemocratic situations and inspired the people to reclaim their freedom.”
Zia will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981 while serving as president.
Unbreakable
Tarique Rahman, Zia’s son, said in a statement that “the nation mourns the passing of a guiding figure who shaped Bangladesh’s democratic journey.”
He added that his mother “faced repeated arrests, was denied medical care, and endured relentless persecution,” yet “she always protected her family with courage and compassion.” He described her resilience as “unbreakable.”
Battling multiple health problems, Zia was admitted to the hospital in late November, where her condition gradually worsened despite medical care.
Remarkably, just hours before her death, party members had submitted nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies in next year’s elections.
“Zia was an unwavering leader for all citizens,” activist ABM Abdul Fattah said, joining mourners outside the Dhaka hospital where she passed. “She dedicated herself to restoring democracy and protecting her people,” he told AFP.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences, expressing hope that Zia’s “vision and legacy will continue to guide the partnership” between India and Bangladesh, a gesture notable despite recent tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka following Hasina’s removal.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is scheduled to attend the funeral, marking the highest-level Indian visit since Hasina’s ousting. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will also be present, according to Islamabad’s High Commission in Dhaka.
Hasina, 78, who was sentenced to death in absentia in November for crimes against humanity, remains in hiding in India.
Three-time prime minister Zia was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges under Hasina’s administration, which also restricted her from traveling abroad for medical treatment. She was released last year, soon after Hasina was removed from power.
“I pray for the eternal peace and forgiveness of Begum Khaleda Zia’s soul,” Hasina said in a statement shared on social media by her now-banned Awami League party.
