PM Wong, SM Lee send condolences after death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia

“Her legacy of dedication and service to her nation will be deeply remembered,” he said.

In a letter to the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Ms Zia’s son, Mr Tarique Rahman, Mr Lee said that he was deeply saddened over Ms Zia’s passing and offered his heartfelt condolences. 

“Prime Minister Khaleda Zia personified the resilience of the Bangladeshi people,” Mr Lee said. 

“During her tenure, she expanded Bangladesh’s private sector, championed women’s education and improved the livelihoods of the Bangladeshi people, especially rural communities,” he added.

Mr Lee noted that Ms Zia fostered closer engagement between Bangladesh and Singapore, and “laid a strong foundation for the enduring friendship” between the two countries. 

“Her many contributions will be long remembered,” Mr Lee said.

Despite years of ill health and imprisonment, Ms Zia had vowed to campaign in elections set for Feb 12 – the first vote since a mass uprising toppled her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina last year.

The BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner in the elections, and Mr Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh last week after 17 years in exile, is seen as a potential prime minister if they win a majority.

Bangladesh bid farewell to Ms Zia in a state funeral on Wednesday that drew vast crowds.

Flags were flown at half-mast, and thousands of security officers lined the streets as her body was carried through the streets of the capital Dhaka in a vehicle in the colours of the national flag.