Bangladesh’s former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. - File Photo

DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) – Both the lower and upper houses of Indian parliament have paid tribute to Bangladesh’s former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Press Trust of India (PTI) said.

According to India’s premier Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency as soon as the House met after the President's address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha yesterday, the secretary general laid copies of the address.

Speaker Om Birla read out obituary reference on Begum Zia along with several prominent Indians.

He said Begum Zia's role in “strengthening the India-Bangladesh relationship will always be remembered”.

In another report PTI said the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday paid tributes to Begum Zia and its two erstwhile members who passed away recently.

Soon after the house met for the day and before the laying of papers, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan read out the obituary references for Khaleda Zia and the two former members.

The house stood in silence as a mark of respect for the departed. Later, the chairman said the Secretary General will convey to members of the beloved families our sense of deep sorrow and deep sympathy.

“I refer with profound sorrow to the passing away of Begum Khaleda Zia, former prime minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” Radhakrishnan said.

He gave a brief background of Begum Zia’s tenure as the Bangladesh premier and opposition leader and added she “made important contributions to the development of Bangladesh and to Indo-Bangladesh bilateral relations”.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30, 2025, after a prolonged illness.