Khaleda Zia’s Funeral Today: EAM S Jaishankar to Represent India in Dhaka
Jaishankar’s visit marks India’s first minister level engagement with Bangladesh since the political transition earlier this year.
India, Dec 31 : India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday to represent the Government of India at the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, officials said on Tuesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar will attend the last rites on behalf of the Indian government and people, underlining India’s formal participation in the farewell of one of Bangladesh’s most influential political leaders.
Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she led for decades, said she died around 6 am at a private hospital in Dhaka, where she had been undergoing treatment for over a month.
She was admitted on November 23 following severe complications affecting her heart and lungs. In her final weeks, doctors described her condition as fragile, with reports indicating she was also battling pneumonia. Plans to shift her abroad for advanced treatment were considered earlier this month but later dropped on medical advice.
Condolences poured in from across the region following her death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened, describing Khaleda Zia as a historic leader whose role in shaping Bangladesh and India-Bangladesh relations would be remembered.
Several neighbouring countries are sending senior representatives to Dhaka for the funeral. Apart from India, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, foreign ministers from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and a special envoy from the Maldives are expected to attend, according to official announcements.
Jaishankar’s visit will also be closely watched on the diplomatic front, as it marks the first minister-level visit from India to Bangladesh since the political transition in Dhaka earlier this year.
The widow of former president Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia made history as Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and served two terms in office. She will be laid to rest at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, beside her husband’s grave.
