Khaleda Zia, Manmohan Singh, Khamenei, Pope Francis mourned in parliament

The Jatiya Sangsad today (12 March) expressed deep condolences over the deaths of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Pope Francis during the first sitting of the 13th parliament.

During the maiden session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, a condolence motion mourning several national and international figures was adopted.

During the session, lawmakers expressed profound grief over the death of Khaleda Zia, who passed away on 25 December. She served as Bangladesh's first female prime minister and was the second woman to hold the post in the Muslim world.

Parliament also expressed sorrow over the deaths of Manmohan Singh, former prime minister of India, and Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics worldwide. The House further mourned the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In addition, the names of several former members of parliament were included in the condolence motion.

Opposition Chief Whip and convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam also requested that several more names be added to the condolence motion, including Osman Hadi, Abrar Fahad, and Felani Khatun.

In addition, condolence motions were also placed for 31 former members of parliament, including former presidents Badruddoza Chowdhury and Matia Chowdhury.

During the discussion on the condolence motion in parliament, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was remembered, and tributes were also paid to the martyrs of the July Uprising.

Members of parliament participating in the discussion, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nahid Islam, Zonayed Saki, and hahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, spoke about the July martyrs.

Later, MPs observed a one-minute silence in memory of the individuals named in the condolence motion as well as the martyrs of July.