Bangladesh plunged into deep mourning on Tuesday as people from all walks of life--political leaders, business figures, social and cultural activists, and religious organisations -- mourned the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, one of the most influential figures in the country’s political history.
Reflecting the scale of national grief, the interim government led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced a three-day national mourning, along with a public holiday on Wednesday, expressing profound shock at the loss.
Condolences also poured in from different countries.
Diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka and several heads of government expressed their deep sympathies at the death of Khaleda Zia, wife of former Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother of BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, recalling his personal interaction with the former prime minister.
“I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” he said in a condolence message, noting her enduring influence on Dhaka–Delhi relations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Khaleda Zia.
“Her lifelong service to Bangladesh and its growth and development leaves a lasting legacy,” he said.
Curtain falls on a political giant as Khaleda Zia passes into history
A number of high-level foreign dignitaries from India, Pakistan, Bhutan and the Maldives are expected to attend Khaleda Zia’s funeral on Wednesday to pay their last respects. Among the likely attendees are Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
International media outlets also highlighted her death prominently. Alongside local media, global platforms such as Al Jazeera, DW, CNN and NDTV ran headlines and in-depth reports outlining her political journey and legacy.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin described Khaleda Zia’s death as an irreparable loss to the nation.
In a condolence message, he said her uncompromising role in establishing democracy and safeguarding the rights of people would remain memorable in Bangladesh’s political history, according to the President’s Office.
He prayed for the eternal peace of her soul and expressed his deepest sympathy to the bereaved family.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus termed Khaleda Zia a towering figure in the country’s democratic movement. “With the sad demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, the nation has lost one of its most significant political guardians. I am deeply saddened and shocked by her death,” he said.
He said that she was not merely a political leader but “an inseparable chapter in the history of Bangladesh,” noting that in recognition of her long struggle, historic contributions and the deep sentiment of the people, the government had earlier this month declared her a person of great national importance.
Several advisers, including Syeda Rizwana Hasan, expressed deep sorrow at her passing.
Her son and BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman paid an emotional tribute, remembering her as both a devoted mother and a steadfast guardian of the nation.
“My mother, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, has responded to the call of Almighty Allah and left us today. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return),” he wrote in an emotional post on his verified Facebook page.
Khaleda to be laid to rest beside Zia; Janaza at Parliament’s South Plaza
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also expressed shock and sorrow, while leaders from other political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and the NCP Convener, conveyed their condolences, describing her death as a profound loss to the nation.
Khaleda Zia breathed her last around 6:00 am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Serving as chairperson of the BNP until her demise, she remained a formidable political force and, notably, never lost a national election since joining politics.
As Bangladesh prepares to bid farewell, the outpouring of grief at home and abroad underscores Khaleda Zia’s enduring imprint on the nation’s political landscape and her lasting legacy in the history of Bangladesh.