Bangladesh is in mourning following the death of Khaleda Zia, three-time prime minister and longtime leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Supporters and party leaders gathered at the hospital and at her funeral on Wednesday, which drew tens of thousands, alongside diplomats and political figures, reflecting her national and international legacy.

Khaleda Zia’s passing leaves the BNP at a critical juncture ahead of national elections scheduled for February 12, with the party now fully entering a post-Khaleda phase under acting chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Analysts say her absence removes a stabilising symbol and moral authority, shifting responsibility for party unity and electoral strategy to Tarique.

BNP adviser Mahdi Amin described Khaleda as a “true guardian” of Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democracy, pledging that the party would carry forward her commitment to parliamentary democracy, human rights, and institutional reform.

Tarique Rahman, recently returned from exile in the UK, is now tasked with consolidating the party base and presenting a united front in a reshaped political landscape, where the former dominant two-party system has fragmented following the banning of Awami League political activities.

Political analysts caution that while Tarique has shown leadership in coordinating opposition movements and proposing reform agendas, his authority remains untested in high-stakes elections.

The BNP must navigate internal factionalism, emerging opposition alliances, and uncertainties over election timing and public confidence.

For supporters, the party’s politics remain deeply personal.

Many see Tarique as the inheritor of his parents’ political legacy, responsible for maintaining the BNP’s connection to the people and fulfilling the vision established by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia.