To express the condolences of India, the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, will attend the funeral of the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Khaleda Zia, in Dhaka on December 31, 2025. S. Jaishankar will represent the Government and people of India at the funeral.
S. Jaishankar’s Sensitive Dhaka Visit
Jaishankar’s visit is a delicate one, especially as relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained in recent weeks following the death of uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi. In this context, the Foreign Minister’s visit to Dhaka is extremely significant.
Khaleda Zia’s Political Legacy
Khaleda Zia, the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), died on Tuesday morning at the age of 80. She passed away while undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Dhaka. As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, she made significant contributions to the country’s political landscape over several decades.
In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern over Khaleda Zia’s health and assured Bangladesh that India was ready to offer all possible assistance.
