Indian Parliament pays tribute to former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia

Both the Houses of Indian Parliament today (28 January) paid tributes to three-time prime minister of Bangladesh, the late Khaleda Zia, on the first day of the budget session 2026-27.

After moving the obituary reference in the Lok Sabha, the lower House, its Speaker Om Birla said Khaleda Zia's contribution to strengthening India-Bangladesh relations would always be remembered.

Khaleda Zia passed away on 30 December last year while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

The Rajya Sabha, the upper House, also paid tributes to Khaleda.    

Soon after the House met for the day and before the laying of papers, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Indian Vice President C P Radhakrishnan read out the obituary references for Khaleda Zia.

The House stood in silence as a mark of respect for the departed. Later the chairman said the Rajya Sabha Secretary General would convey to the members of the beloved families their condolences. 

Reading out the reference for Khaleda Zia, Radhakrishnan said "I refer with profound sorrow to the passing away of Khaleda Zia, former prime minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the BNP."

"She was the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh and served in the office for three times between 1991 to 2006. She also served as the leader of the opposition from 1996 to 2001.  Khaleda Zia made important contributions to the development of Bangladesh and to Indo-Bangladesh bilateral relations," the chairman said.

"The House joins the beloved family, the government and the people of Bangladesh in mourning the passing of her excellency Khaleda Zia," Radhakrishnan said.

The obituary references to Khaleda Zia and five Indian MPs were tabled in both the Houses soon after Indian President Droupadi Murmu's customary address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, heralding the start of the annual budget session.

The Houses were then adjourned for the day.