New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. Jaishankar will travel to Dhaka on December 31, 2025, to attend the last rites, reflecting India’s respect for Zia’s political legacy and its ties with Bangladesh.
Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The BNP said she breathed her last around 6 am, shortly after the Fajr prayer. She had been admitted to the hospital on November 23 following a lung infection and had been battling multiple health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis and kidney complications. Earlier this month, she was taken to London for advanced medical care.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Zia’s demise and conveyed condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh. In a message posted on X, Modi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of the former prime minister and prayed for strength for her family during this difficult time.
Condolences also poured in from leaders across the region, with many remembering Khaleda Zia as a significant democratic leader in Bangladesh’s political history. Global leaders highlighted her long public life and her role in shaping the country’s democratic journey, while acknowledging her contribution to regional relations.
