External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka on Wednesday, where he was seen greeting leaders from across the region. During the ceremony, Jaishankar was seen shaking hands with Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The interaction took place at Khaleda Zia’s residence, where Jaishankar walked up to Sadiq and greeted him, a moment that drew attention amid otherwise formal funeral proceedings.
Soon after arriving in Dhaka, Jaishankar also met Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Khaleda Zia. During the meeting, he handed over a personal condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar said he conveyed the “deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India” over the death of the veteran Bangladeshi leader.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he also spoke about Khaleda Zia’s role in shaping relations between India and Bangladesh. He said he expressed confidence that her vision and values would continue to guide the future of ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said Jaishankar conveyed the condolences of the Indian people and government at a time when Bangladesh is mourning the loss of its former prime minister. He added that Jaishankar acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s contribution to democracy and expressed hope for stronger bilateral relations following Bangladesh’s democratic transition, with national elections scheduled for February 2026.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. She served three terms as prime minister and remained one of the most influential figures in the country’s politics for decades, especially during the period after military rule.
Before the funeral, her body was brought to her Gulshan residence, Firoza, where family members and close relatives gathered to pay their last respects. Tarique Rahman was present at the residence, seen sitting quietly with a prayer book in his hands.
The Namaz e Janaza for Khaleda Zia was held at 2 pm at Manik Mia Avenue, located in the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament Building. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and several senior leaders attended the prayers. After the ceremony, she was laid to rest beside her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, at his mausoleum in Sher e Bangla Nagar.
India confirmed its official participation in the last rites, with Jaishankar representing the government and people of India. Senior representatives from several South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were also present.
The Bangladesh government declared a public holiday and announced three days of state mourning. Security was tightened across Dhaka for the funeral, with over 10,000 police and Armed Police Battalion personnel deployed and traffic restricted on key routes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier expressed deep sorrow over Khaleda Zia’s death. He recalled meeting her in Dhaka in 2015 and extended condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh. Tributes have continued to pour in from leaders and organisations across the world, reflecting Khaleda Zia’s lasting political legacy.
