Bangladesh entered a period of national mourning this week as enormous crowds gathered in Dhaka to pay their final respects to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Supporters traveled from distant districts to the capital, turning the state funeral into one of the largest public farewells in the country’s modern history.
On Wednesday, a convoy carrying Khaleda’s flag-draped coffin moved toward the parliament complex along Manik Mia Avenue. Videos circulating online showed continuous waves of mourners lining the main avenue, stretching as far as the eye could see. Authorities deployed around 10,000 officers and personnel across key access points, including more than 10,000 security staff stationed along the funeral route to maintain public safety and order.
Khaleda, who became Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister in 1991, died on Tuesday at 79 following long-term health complications. Her passing has prompted a three-day period of state mourning, accompanied by tributes from global leaders recognizing her central role in Bangladesh’s pro-democracy movement.
“The country will feel her absence deeply,” one supporter said from the crowd, echoing a common sentiment heard across public gatherings.
A Nation in Grief
Speaking from outside the parliament grounds, journalist Tanvir Chowdhury described a scene filled with emotion. Many mourners were visibly moved, some in tears, expressing how Khaleda inspired their belief in democratic leadership and public representation.
Sharmina Siraj, a mother attending the event, recalled the impact of education stipends launched during Khaleda’s leadership, saying they helped widen opportunities for young girls across the country. Others, including those who did not share her political views, also joined the procession to honor her long career.
Retired civil official Minhaz Uddin, who brought his grandson to witness the convoy, said he wanted the younger generation to understand the importance of the moment.
“This is how a nation says goodbye to someone who shaped its political history,” he remarked.
Political Legacy Continues
Khaleda’s son, Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years abroad. In a statement, he acknowledged the country’s collective grief, calling his mother a steady force behind Bangladesh’s democratic ambitions. He praised her perseverance despite political pressure, arrests, and long legal battles.
Rahman currently leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and is expected to stand as the party’s prime ministerial candidate if the BNP wins the upcoming February elections.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and senior officials from Pakistan are also expected to attend the funeral. Jaishankar’s visit marks one of the highest-level diplomatic appearances in Dhaka since the departure of former PM Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda’s longtime political rival.
Final Resting Place
Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, in a park area near the parliament complex. Ziaur Rahman, who served as president, was assassinated in 1981. Khaleda’s burial alongside him underscores a personal and political bond remembered by millions across Bangladesh.