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Published : 04 Jul 2026, 09:30 AM
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has paid tribute at the state funeral of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
He also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior leaders, conveying condolences from Bangladesh's government and people to the Iranian nation.
The Parliament Secretariat on Saturday said Hafiz Uddin offered prayers for Khamenei at the ceremony held at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex.
He later met Pezeshkian and other senior Iranian leaders and signed the condolence book kept at the venue.
Khamenei was killed at his residence on Feb 28 at the outset of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
During the conflict, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Arab countries in West Asia hosting US military bases, describing them as “legitimate targets”.
Bangladesh's initial response drew criticism after the foreign ministry condemned “violations of the sovereignty” of countries in West Asia but made no reference to the attack on Iran or Khamenei's killing.
Facing criticism, Dhaka issued another statement on Mar 2 expressing sorrow over Khamenei's death, though it stopped short of condemning the killing.
The ministry said the government was saddened by the targeted killing of Iran's supreme leader in violation of international law and norms, and extended condolences to the Iranian people.
It also said Bangladesh believes conflicts cannot be resolved through war and that disputes should be settled through dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law.
Amid the debate over Dhaka's position, Iranian Ambassador Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi said Tehran was not seeking military support from Bangladesh but wanted backing as the “aggrieved party”.
Later, the 13th Parliament adopted a condolence motion over Ali Khamenei's death.
During Iran's retaliatory strikes, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir visited Gulf Arab countries carrying a letter expressing Bangladesh's solidarity.
Four months after the assassination, Hafiz Uddin officially condemned the killing on Friday during a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran, according to a foreign ministry statement summarising the talks between the two legislative heads.
The Iranian government has rolled out a six-day programme to bid farewell to the late leader.
His body was placed at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla on Friday ahead of the funeral prayers scheduled for Saturday.
The ceremonies began at 6am local time, while members of the public will be able to pay their respects until Sunday afternoon.
Khamenei's coffin will remain at the Grand Mosalla for three days alongside the coffins of family members killed in Israeli and US attacks.
He is due to be buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, on Jul 9.
The burial had originally been planned for March but was put off as the war between the US, Israel and Iran dragged on.
Invitation to Visit Dhaka
According to the Parliament Secretariat, Hafiz held bilateral talks with Ghalibaf before attending the funeral.
He condemned what he described as the "brutal killing" of Iran's former supreme leader and spoke of the centuries-old friendship, cultural ties and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The speaker also praised Ghalibaf's role in implementing the recently signed Iran-US peace memorandum.
He expressed hope that the agreement would bring lasting peace, stability and prosperity to Iran and the wider region, adding that Bangladesh would continue supporting the peace process and a diplomatic resolution to disputes.
Hafiz formally invited Ghalibaf to visit Dhaka at a mutually convenient time to strengthen bilateral ties.
The speaker arrived in Tehran on Thursday to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the state funeral and was received at the airport by Iranian Deputy Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei.
Iran Asks for Cricket Support
The secretariat said Hafiz also met Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali during the visit.
He sought Bangladesh's assistance in developing cricket in his country and voiced interest in signing a memorandum of understanding to boost sporting ties between the two nations.
The speaker said he would relay the request to Bangladesh's state minister for youth and sports.
He later gave an interview to the Bangla section of Iran Radio, discussing bilateral relations and regional issues.
He also said he would ask the relevant authorities to improve consular services for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Iran.
