Final goodbye to Khaleda Zia: Jaishankar flies to Dhaka for funeral

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: “The External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, will represent the Government and the 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 December 31, 2025,” the statement added.

Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest with full state honours beside the grave of her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan near Chandrima Udyan in Dhaka.

As the burial will be conducted formally by the state, access for the general public will remain restricted. Only invited dignitaries and authorised personnel will be permitted to attend, reported the Dhaka Tribune.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP chairperson, who passed away in Dhaka at the age of 80.

In a post on X, Modi acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s contributions to Bangladesh’s development and her role in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations.

“Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss,” the Prime Minister wrote.

Recalling her legacy, Modi added: “As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered. I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace.”

Khaleda Zia had been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She passed away in the presence of family members, including her eldest son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who had recently returned to Bangladesh from London, where he had been living in exile since 2008.