Bangladesh on Wednesday bade a solemn farewell to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, as a state funeral in the capital Dhaka drew vast crowds mourning a leader whose long and often turbulent career shaped the country’s politics for decades. Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of about 170 million people, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after weeks of declining health.
From early morning, the national mood was one of collective grief. Flags flew at half-mast across government buildings, while thousands of police and security personnel were deployed along key routes in Dhaka. Zia’s body, draped in the national flag, was carried through the streets in a slow-moving cortege, passing landmarks heavy with political symbolism, including parliament, where crowds had gathered since dawn.
A sea of mourners packed the streets leading to the parliament complex, many waving Bangladesh’s red-and-green flag alongside banners of Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Prayers were held over her coffin as chants, tears and moments of silence mingled in the humid winter air. For supporters and critics alike, the funeral marked the end of an era defined by fierce political rivalry, democratic struggles and the steady rise of women in leadership.
“I never voted for her, but I came to honour her,” said Minhaz Uddin, a 70-year-old retired government official, who stood behind a barbed-wire barricade with his grandson. “She was a veteran politician whose contributions will always be remembered. We may have disagreed with her politics, but she was part of our history.”
For many women in particular, Zia’s life carried deep symbolic weight. Homemaker Sharmina Siraj, 40, said Zia’s leadership inspired generations. “It is difficult to imagine women in leadership positions anytime soon,” she said, reflecting on the uncertain political future. Siraj credited stipends introduced during Zia’s tenure to support girls’ education as her most enduring legacy. “Those programmes had a huge impact on the lives of our girls,” she added.
Zia served as prime minister three times and was the first woman to lead Bangladesh, following in the political footsteps of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981. Her career was inseparable from her bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, the other dominant figure in Bangladeshi politics for more than three decades. Their contest defined the country’s political landscape, often polarising society and paralysing governance.
Despite years of ill health, imprisonment and political pressure, Zia had vowed to campaign in elections scheduled for February 12. Those polls will be the first since a mass uprising last year toppled Hasina’s government. Zia’s death comes at a critical juncture, as the BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner, and her son, Tarique Rahman, 60, is viewed as a potential prime ministerial candidate after returning last week from 17 years in exile.
“She is no more, but her legacy lives on — and so does the BNP,” said Jenny Parvez, 37, who travelled for hours with her family to witness the funeral procession. Like many others, she described the moment as both deeply personal and historically significant.
The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, declared three days of national mourning and organised the elaborate state funeral. Yunus described Zia as “a great guardian” of the nation, acknowledging her role in Bangladesh’s democratic journey despite deep political divisions.
Later in the day, Zia’s body was to be interred beside her late husband in Dhaka, closing a chapter that began with the military-led politics of the post-independence era and stretched into the complex, often contentious democracy of today.
In a statement, Tarique Rahman said the country mourned “the loss of a guiding presence that shaped its democratic aspirations.” He said his mother endured repeated arrests, denial of medical care and “relentless persecution,” but that her resilience “was unbreakable.”
Zia had been suffering from multiple health issues and was rushed to hospital in late November. Her condition gradually deteriorated despite treatment. Nevertheless, only hours before her death, BNP workers submitted nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies in next year’s election — a symbolic act underscoring her enduring political relevance.
International reactions reflected Zia’s stature beyond Bangladesh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope that her “vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership,” a notably warm message despite strained relations between New Delhi and Dhaka since Hasina’s fall. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended the funeral, marking the most senior Indian visit since the upheaval, and said he had met Tarique Rahman to convey India’s condolences.
Sheikh Hasina, 78, who was sentenced to death in absentia in November for crimes against humanity and is believed to be in hiding in India, also issued a message. “I pray for the eternal peace and forgiveness of Begum Khaleda Zia’s soul,” she said in a statement shared by her now-banned Awami League party.
