Quick Reads
- Bangladesh held a state funeral for Khaleda Zia on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, after her death at age 80.
- Huge crowds gathered in Dhaka to pay their final respects.
- Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers) took place at the National Parliament’s South Plaza.
- She was buried with full state honours beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman.
- Leaders and diplomats from several countries, including India’s EAM S. Jaishankar, attended.
The Story
A Historic Farewell in Dhaka
Bangladesh paused to honour one of its most prominent political figures on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the first woman to lead the country and long-time chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was laid to rest in a state funeral in Dhaka.
Where It Happened
The funeral prayers, known as Namaz-e-Janaza, were held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament), with thousands lining the avenues to pay their respects. After the religious rites, her body was taken to Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, where she was buried beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman.
How It Unfolded
Bangladesh declared a three-day national mourning period and a general holiday on Wednesday to respect her legacy. Security was heightened across the capital as people gathered early, with many waving national flags and those of the BNP.
Foreign dignitaries attended the event, underscoring Zia’s influence beyond Bangladesh. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, was among the notable international guests who paid their respects.
Legacy of a Political Icon
Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday at age 80 after a prolonged illness. She served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s prime minister and remained a central figure in the country’s political life for decades, shaping modern democratic politics there.
Her burial beside her husband, a former president and founding figure of the BNP, was a symbolic close to a long chapter in Bangladesh’s political history.
