Bangladesh has declared three days of state mourning following the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, the three-time former prime minister and a towering figure in the country’s political history.
The 80-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) passed away early on Tuesday morning at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving treatment for chronic heart, liver, and kidney complications.
In a televised address, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus described her as a “great guardian” of the nation. A general holiday has been declared for Wednesday to allow the public to attend her funeral.
A nation in mourning
The interim government has ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast at all official buildings and missions abroad.
State Funeral: A Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) will be held at the Jatiya Sangsad South Plaza on Wednesday afternoon.
Burial: She will be laid to rest at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar cemetery, beside her husband, the late President Ziaur Rahman.
Party Mourning: The BNP has announced its own seven-day mourning period, with supporters wearing black badges across the country.
Global tributes
Condolences have poured in from world leaders, reflecting Ms Zia’s international standing.
The United Nations, the US, and the UK joined regional neighbours, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in expressing “profound shock”.
Mr Modi recalled his 2015 meeting with her, noting her “important contributions to the development of Bangladesh”.
A legacy of ‘uncompromising’ leadership
Khaleda Zia’s political journey began in the shadow of tragedy. Following the 1981 assassination of her husband, she transformed from a soft-spoken housewife into a formidable political force.
She is most remembered for her “uncompromising” role in the 1990 mass uprising that toppled military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad. In 1991, she made history as the country’s first female prime minister.
“She represented an important chapter in the history of Bangladesh,” said Prof Yunus. “Through her leadership, the nation was inspired to regain liberty.”
Void in the political arena
In recent years, Ms Zia’s health and legal battles kept her largely away from the public eye. She spent years under house arrest and in hospital, with her supporters frequently alleging that the previous administration of Sheikh Hasina denied her life-saving medical care abroad.
Her death comes just as the country prepares for a transition back to democratic governance following the mass uprising in August 2024. Her son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, recently returned from 17 years in exile, signalling a new chapter for the party she led for four decades.
As thousands gather in Dhaka to pay their final respects, analysts say her passing marks the definitive end of an era that defined Bangladeshi politics for over thirty years.
