Funeral prayers of Bangladesh’s former prime minister Khaleda Zia were offered in Dhaka on Wednesday with full state honours.

The prayers were attended by Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, along with senior political leaders and a large number of citizens.

Pakistan was represented at the funeral by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while high-ranking officials from South Asian countries and local leaders were also present.

Bangladesh’s first female prime minister was laid to rest with full state honours beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman.

Khaleda Zia had been suffering from multiple health issues, including a liver ailment, and had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka for a prolonged period.

She passed away on Tuesday.

She was Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and also held the distinction of being the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.

Khaleda Zia served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.

Officials from India, Bhutan and the Maldives attended her funeral prayers.