Jaishankar in Dhaka as India Pays Last Respects to Khaleda Zia

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah said that External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, who is in Dhaka, conveyed the condolences of the people and the government of India as Bangladesh mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and recognised her contribution to democracy.

 

 

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest later today beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital. India has confirmed official participation in her funeral.

 

 

India will be represented at the funeral by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

 

 

“The External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent the Government and people of India at the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He will accordingly visit Dhaka on 31 December 2025,” the statement said.

 

 

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. A central figure in Bangladesh’s politics for decades, she played a key role in restoring democracy after years of military rule and served the country as Prime Minister for three terms.

 

 

Her namaz-e-janaza will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, after which she will be buried beside Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar