Bangladesh mourns Khaleda Zia in state funeral with massive crowds

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s state funeral, which attracted a large crowd of mourners, was held in Bangladesh in a state funeral procession that had a powerful influence on the country for decades.

Zia, the first woman to lead the country’s 170 million-strong population, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. On Wednesday, thousands of security personnel lined Dhaka’s streets as her flag-draped coffin travelled through the capital while flying at half-mast across the country.

For the funeral services, a large crowd gathered outside Bangladesh’s parliament building. Since early in the morning, people have poured into Manik Mia Avenue, where the parliament building is located, to pay their last respects.

Despite never having voted for her, retired government official Minhaz Uddin, 70, showed up. He said, “I came here with my grandson because I want to say goodbye to a veteran politician whose contributions will always be remembered,” he said while peering from a barbed wire fence.

Following her husband’s passing, Zia became famous for challenging a military ruler who was ultimately ousted in a massive uprising in 1990. She served as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s leader until her death in 1991 after a landslide victory to become the first woman to win parliamentary democracy.

Sheikh Hasina, who led the Bangladesh Awami League party for 15 years before being ousted in a mass uprising in 2024, was known for her calm demeanor, who continued to have a fierce political rivalry with her archrival.