India marked a rare diplomatic moment in Dhaka as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The visit came at a sensitive time in bilateral ties and carried strong political meaning.
Jaishankar represented India at the funeral prayers on Wednesday. During the visit, he met Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s son and the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The meeting took place at the Parliament complex.
The visit lasted about four hours. It was the first visit by an Indian minister since relations cooled after the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in August 2024.
Message from PM Modi to Tarique Rahman
During the meeting, Jaishankar handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman. The interaction was brief but symbolically important.
“Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India. Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zia’s vision and values will guide the development of our partnership,” Jaishankar said.
The message highlighted India’s intent to maintain continuity in ties amid political change in Bangladesh.
Outreach to BNP Ahead of Bangladesh Elections
Diplomatic observers see Jaishankar’s meeting with Rahman as part of India’s outreach to the BNP leadership. The party is widely expected to emerge as the largest force in the February 12 national election.
Rahman recently returned to Bangladesh after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile in Britain. He has led the BNP from abroad since his mother’s health declined.
Bangladesh’s high commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, was present during the meeting.
Focus on Democratic Transition and Future Ties
Hamidullah later said that Jaishankar recognised Khaleda Zia’s contribution to democracy and expressed hope for stronger ties after the election.
Jaishankar “expressed optimism to strengthen [Bangladesh-India] ties following democratic transition in Bangladesh [through] the upcoming election”, he said.
He added that both sides looked forward to shaping a new phase in ties based on shared interests and practical cooperation.
Who Attended the Meeting?
Several senior figures were present during the interaction. These included:
- Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman
- De facto law minister Asif Nazrul
- Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma
- Senior BNP leaders
There was no official statement from the Indian government on the meeting. Unlike some regional leaders, Jaishankar did not meet interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Brief India-Pakistan Contact After Months
During the funeral events, Jaishankar briefly exchanged greetings with Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Officials said there were no formal talks.
This marked the first senior-level contact between India and Pakistan since the four-day military conflict in May. The conflict followed Indian strikes on terrorist infrastructure on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
Military officials from both sides agreed to halt hostilities on May 10.
Jaishankar also interacted with several regional leaders. These included foreign ministers from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, as well as Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain.
Massive Turnout for Khaleda Zia’s Funeral
Millions gathered in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayers. Khaleda Zia served as prime minister three times and was a central figure in Bangladesh politics for decades.
She had a long and bitter rivalry with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League lost power after weeks of student-led protests in August 2024.
Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday at a Dhaka hospital, days after her son’s return to the country.