Following the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, leaders and parties across Bangladesh and India have expressed grief and paid tribute to her legacy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced seven days of official mourning. Black flags will be raised at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan and all offices nationwide, while party leaders, activists, and supporters will wear black badges in her memory. Doa mahfils (prayer gatherings) and Quran recitations are scheduled at BNP venues and other locations across Bangladesh. Condolence books have been opened at the BNP central office, the Gulshan office in Dhaka, and at district offices for members of the public to pay their respects.

Also Read

placeholder

Prison, power and politics: Khaleda Zia’s years behind bars under three regimes

placeholder

From birth to diplomatic bonds: Khaleda Zia’s enduring India connection

placeholder

Who was Khaleda Zia? From President’s wife to 1st woman PM: A political life that shaped Bangladesh

placeholder

Bangladesh’s first woman PM Khaleda Zia passes away at 80

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Zia’s passing. “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss,” Modi wrote on X.

He recalled his warm meeting with Zia in Dhaka in 2015 and added, “I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace.”

Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also paid tribute, calling Khaleda Zia one of the nation’s great guardians.

“Begum Khaleda Zia was not merely the leader of a political party; she represented an important chapter in the history of Bangladesh,” he said, highlighting her decades-long role in shaping Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and played a pivotal role in restoring democracy after years of military rule, dominating the country’s politics for decades.