Bangladesh has announced three days of state mourning for former prime minister Khaleda Zia, with her funeral to be held on Wednesday.
Bangladesh has declared three days of national mourning for the demise of Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister and a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia.
She died at the age of 80 on Tuesday morning, suffering from multiple health conditions, including advanced liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and complications affecting her chest and heart, her doctors said.
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday with full state honour. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, in a television broadcast to the nation, appealed to maintain discipline.”
“I humbly appeal to everyone to maintain discipline while observing all forms of mourning, including the funeral prayers. I know you are all deeply emotional at this time,” Yunus said.
“I hope that during this difficult period, you will show utmost patience and support one another in carrying out her last rites, including the funeral,” he further added.
The Advisor for Law in the interim government, Asif Nazrul said that the funeral prayers would be held in front of Parliament after midday prayers, and that Zia would then be buried alongside her late husband, Ziaur Rahman.
The Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt overthrew Sheikh Hasina as prime minister in August 2024, ending her 15-year autocratic rule.
The BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner, and Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, who returned only on Thursday after 17 years in exile, is seen as a potential prime minister if they win a majority.
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