Khaleda Zia laid to rest as thousands of mourners bid emotional farewell to BNP patriarch

DHAKA: (Dec 31) Hundreds of thousands of people on Wednesday bid an emotional farewell to former prime minister and BNP patriarch Khaleda Zia as she was laid to rest near the parliament building amid tight security.

Zia, the three-time prime minister and a towering political figure, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, several senior leaders from Pakistan, Nepal and other neighbouring countries, diplomats and top political and military brass of Bangladesh attended Zia's funeral at Manik Mia Avenue.