Khaleda Zia Funeral: Thousands Gather Near Dhaka Parliament for Former PM’s Last Rites

Thousands of mourners gathered near Bangladesh’s Parliament complex in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral prayers of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, marking one of the largest public funerals in the country in recent years.

A sea of people filled Manik Mia Avenue as the motorcade carrying Khaleda Zia’s mortal remains arrived at the funeral venue amid tight security. The procession departed from her family residence in Gulshan, accompanied by senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), relatives and close associates.

Following the funeral prayers at the National Parliament area, Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest beside her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. She passed away earlier this week after undergoing medical treatment for over a month.

Her death has triggered nationwide mourning and drawn strong international attention. Several foreign dignitaries arrived in Dhaka to pay their respects, including India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who conveyed India’s condolence message to BNP leadership. Delegations from Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives also attended the funeral events.

Security across Dhaka was significantly tightened, particularly around Evercare Hospital, Gulshan, and the Parliament complex. Authorities deployed multiple security agencies and announced road closures and traffic diversions to manage the massive turnout.

Khaleda Zia’s funeral took place against a sensitive political backdrop, with Bangladesh witnessing unrest in recent weeks following the killing of a student leader. Despite the tense atmosphere, the funeral proceedings remained largely peaceful.

A towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history, Khaleda Zia served twice as prime minister and was the country’s first woman to hold the office. Her leadership shaped Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory for decades, marked by intense political rivalry, electoral battles and prolonged struggles for power.

As Bangladesh bids farewell to one of its most influential leaders, attention now shifts to the BNP’s future under acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, with party leaders signalling continuity rather than internal contestation.