Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey on Wednesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, calling her a towering figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape and the first woman to serve as the country’s Prime Minister.

In a message to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Botchwey said, “Her leadership across three terms demonstrated her unwavering commitment to the welfare of Bangladeshi people.”

She noted that Khaleda Zia’s influence extended beyond Bangladesh, inspiring female leaders across South Asia and the wider Commonwealth.

Expressing her sorrow over the former Prime Minister’s passing, Botchwey extended the Commonwealth family’s deepest condolences to Khaleda Zia’s family and to the people of Bangladesh. She concluded her message with heartfelt sympathies and assurances of her highest consideration.