Bangladesh observed a national day of mourning as the remains of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia were laid to rest following a state funeral in the capital city of Dhaka. Thousands of citizens gathered at Manik Mia Avenue, near the national parliament building, to pay their final respects to the three-time head of government, who was a central figure in the country’s democratic evolution.
The late stateswoman, who holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead the nation, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80.
Okay News understands that the interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, declared a public holiday and three days of official mourning to honor her political legacy. Security was significantly reinforced for the event, with approximately 10,000 personnel deployed to manage the massive crowds that lined the streets as the funeral convoy passed.
Zia rose to political prominence following the death of her husband and was instrumental in the 1990 movement that restored parliamentary democracy to the nation. Throughout her career, she led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and remained a formidable force in South Asian politics for decades. Even those outside her political base joined the procession, citing her historical contributions as a reason for their attendance.
As a sign of national respect, flags were flown at half-mast across all government installations. The state funeral concludes a period of mourning for the veteran politician, whose leadership and long-standing rivalry with other political factions defined the nation’s contemporary history. The transition marks a symbolic end of an era for the country’s political landscape.
