Khaleda Zia Laid to Rest in Dhaka; Jaishankar Meets BNP Leader Tarique Rahman and Pakistan Speaker

Thousands of mourners, political leaders, and foreign dignitaries gathered in Dhaka on Wednesday to pay their final respects to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was laid to rest with full state honours. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was among the prominent international figures present at the funeral.

The 80-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh was buried at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the site of the country’s parliament complex. She was laid to rest beside her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, in accordance with state protocol.

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Before attending the funeral, Jaishankar met Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s son and the acting chairperson of the BNP. Widely seen as a key political figure and a potential future prime minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman received a formal message of condolence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveyed personally by the External Affairs Minister.

On the sidelines of the funeral events, Jaishankar also met Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The brief interaction and exchange of greetings were confirmed through official channels, though neither side shared photographs from the meeting.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s official social media account later posted an image of Jaishankar’s meeting with Sadiq, drawing attention to the diplomatic engagements taking place amid the solemn occasion.

Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Her death came just days before the scheduled February general elections and shortly after the return of Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh from London, ending 17 years of political exile.

People from all walks of life braved the winter chill in Dhaka to offer prayers for the departed leader. Many were seen in tears as they mourned the loss of one of Bangladesh’s most influential and polarising political figures.

The casket of Khaleda Zia, draped in the national flag, was placed near the western end of Manik Mia Avenue. After funeral prayers were completed, she was buried beside Ziaur Rahman in a formal and tightly secured ceremony. Members of the general public were not allowed to attend the burial itself.

Along with Jaishankar, several senior leaders from South Asian countries attended the funeral, including Maldives Higher Education and Labour Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Nepal Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Bhutan Foreign Minister Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, and Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka comes at a sensitive moment in India–Bangladesh relations, which have been under strain following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, a long-time ally of New Delhi, and reports of attacks on minorities—particularly Hindus—in the Muslim-majority country.

Observers view Jaishankar’s presence at the funeral and his meetings with BNP leadership as a diplomatic outreach by New Delhi at a time when ties with Dhaka have grown increasingly complex.

Khaleda Zia’s tenure as prime minister—from 1991 to 1996, again from 2001 to 2006, and briefly after February 1996—was often seen as a counterbalance to the Awami League’s traditionally close relationship with India under Sheikh Hasina.

During Khaleda Zia’s administrations, Bangladesh significantly improved its ties with china, a shift that caused unease in New Delhi. Under her second term, Dhaka moved closer to Beijing, which eventually emerged as Bangladesh’s principal supplier of military equipment.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have remained tense since the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assumed office in August 2024. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of minorities and attacks on Hindu communities and their properties in Bangladesh.