Dhaka, Jan 1: Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on Wednesday to bid an emotional farewell to former Bangladeshi prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was laid to rest near the parliament building amid tight security.Zia, a three-time prime minister and one of Bangladesh’s most influential political figures, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness.
Her funeral, held at Manik Mia Avenue, was attended by dignitaries from Bangladesh and abroad, including Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, and Zia’s son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, senior leaders from Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives, along with diplomats, ambassadors, and senior political and military officials, also paid their respects.