MCCI, BCI condole Khaleda Zia’s death

Two major trade bodies have expressed deep condolences over the passing of Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister of Bangladesh.

In a press release yesterday, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI), said, "Her demise marks the end of a significant chapter in Bangladesh's political history, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, resilience, and profound national impact."

Khaleda passed away on December 30 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital. She was 80. She was laid to rest beside her husband, former Bangladesh president Ziaur Rahman, the following day at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.

In a separate statement, the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) said the nation will remember Khaleda's role in expanding education, particularly women's education, and in creating a social safety net.

BCI President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) said during her tenure, the foundation of industrialisation laid through the introduction of a free-market economy and encouragement of the private sector helped strengthen Bangladesh's economy. "With her death, the country and the nation have lost a dedicated patriotic leader."