Parliament Pays Tribute To Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia On First Day Of Budget Session

Both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday held obituary references to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on the first day of the Budget Session 2026–27. Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30, 2025,

at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Following President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, obituary references were taken up as part of the day’s proceedings. As per the List of Business in the Rajya Sabha, the House was also scheduled to pay tributes to former MPs L Ganesan and Suresh Kalmadi also.

In the Lok Sabha, members paid their respects to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in an air crash earlier on Wednesday, as well as five former MPs who passed away recently. After the President’s address, the Secretary-General laid copies of the address on the table of the House.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla read out obituary references for Ajit Pawar, Khaleda Zia, Shalini Patil, Bhanu Prakash Mirdha, Satyendra Nath Brohmo Chaudhury, Suresh Kalmadi and Kabindra Purkayastha. Members observed silence as a mark of respect.

Speaking on Khaleda Zia, Birla said her contribution to strengthening India–Bangladesh relations would always be remembered. He also recalled the public service and parliamentary contributions of the former MPs.

Shalini Patil was a member of the seventh Lok Sabha, while Bhanu Prakash Mirdha served in the eleventh Lok Sabha. Satyendra Nath Brohmo Chaudhury was a member of the tenth Lok Sabha. Suresh Kalmadi served as an MP in the eleventh, fourteenth and fifteenth Lok Sabhas, while Kabindra Purkayastha was a member of the tenth, twelfth and fifteenth Lok Sabhas.

The Lower House was then adjourned for the day after the obituary references.