Amid Strained Ties, Jaishankar Conveys Modi’s Condolences to Tarique Rahman at Khaleda Zia Funeral
New Delhi: Handing over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar condoled the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia with her son and acting Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chair Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Wednesday (December 31), expressing hope that her values will guide the bilateral partnership between the two neighbours.
The visit took place against the backdrop of strained relations between New Delhi and Dhaka’s interim government.
Tensions have escalated in recent weeks following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, which triggered widespread protests and incidents of mob violence across Bangladesh. Diplomatic friction peaked after both nations summoned each other’s high commissioners to protest security concerns and heightened rhetoric, including an attack on a Hindu worker, Dipu Chandra Das, and demonstrations outside diplomatic missions.
Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka after a 17-year self-imposed exile in United Kingdom last week. The BNP is widely seen as the front runner for elections scheduled in February, the first polls since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in mass protests in August 2024. Opinion polls suggest Rahman is well placed to emerge as the country’s next prime minister.
“On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi,” Jaishankar posted on X. "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."
A day earlier, Modi had expressed condolences over Khaleda Zia's passing, recalling his 2015 meeting with her in Dhaka and noting her contributions to Bangladesh's development and India-Bangladesh relations. Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also paid tributes.
Also read: In Bangladesh's History, Begum Khaleda Zia Is an Entire Era
Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka at 11.30 am local time. He met Rahman at the Bangladeshi parliament complex, attended the funeral and departed shortly afterwards, staying in the city for around four hours. He didn’t call on Bangladesh government’s interim head Muhammad Yunus, unlike other visiting foreign leaders.
Bangladesh's high commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said the two countries would "look forward to script a new chapter in ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence" following Jaishankar's visit.
The funeral drew delegations from several countries, including Pakistan, which sent Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly.
The media cell of Bangladesh's interim government released photographs showing Jaishankar and Sadiq shaking hands. Indian sources said there was only an exchange of pleasantries.
Along with that of the meeting of Jaishankar and Rahman, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had only released photos of the minister having a quick talk with Nepal's foreign minister Bala Nanda Sharma.
This was the first such public encounter between Indian and Pakistani officials since clashes in May. At previous Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meetings, prime ministers and foreign ministers from both countries have been present at the same table but exchanged only verbal barbs in speeches.
A social media post from the Pakistan National Assembly’s official account described the encounter as having been “initiated” by Jaishankar. “This interaction marked the first significant high-level contact initiated by the Indian side following the Pakistan-India conflict in May 2025,” it wrote.
During Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq's visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh to inscribe remarks in the condolence book placed for the Late Begum Khaleda ZIa, in the presence of foreign ministers and delegates of different countries, the Indian External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar… pic.twitter.com/kBi6vnOIIC
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) December 31, 2025
The funeral was characterised by emotional scenes and crowds surging across Dhaka. After the body was released from Evercare Hospital, a flag-draped vehicle carried the remains through streets lined with thousands of mourning supporters.
Khaleda Zia was laid to rest with full state honours at the Banani Military Graveyard and accorded a 19-gun salute as a military contingent carried her coffin. She was buried in the same grave as her husband, the late President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
This article went live on December thirty-first, two thousand twenty five, at thirty-five minutes past six in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
