External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday to represent the Government of India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh&rsquo;s former and first female prime minister, who died on Tuesday after years of ill health. The visit underscores India&rsquo;s diplomatic outreach at a moment of national mourning in Bangladesh.
The Government of India said Jaishankar would attend the funeral as a representative of both the Indian state and its people, reflecting the importance New Delhi attaches to Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s role in Bangladesh&rsquo;s political history and her contribution to bilateral ties.
Bangladesh has announced three days of state mourning following her death, with the declaration made by the country&rsquo;s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in the nation&rsquo;s politics, first came to power in 1991 after leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to victory in Bangladesh&rsquo;s first free election in over a decade. She went on to serve three terms as prime minister, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.
During her tenure, Khaleda Zia played a key role in shifting Bangladesh from a presidential to a parliamentary system, strengthening the authority of the prime minister&rsquo;s office. Her governments also focused on opening the economy to foreign investment and introducing free and compulsory primary education.
Despite being out of office since 2006, Khaleda Zia remained a central political figure. She spent several years in prison or under house arrest on corruption charges that she described as politically motivated during the rule of her long-time rival Sheikh Hasina. In early 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted her in her final case, a ruling that restored her eligibility to contest elections. Following Hasina&rsquo;s removal from office in 2024, the interim administration allowed her to seek medical treatment abroad.
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow at her passing, recalling her role in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations. Sheikh Hasina also offered condolences, describing Khaleda&rsquo;s death as a major loss to Bangladesh&rsquo;s political life.
Her son and BNP acting chairperson, Tarique Rahman, paid an emotional tribute, calling her the &ldquo;Mother of Democracy&rdquo; and praising her resilience in the face of imprisonment, illness, and political persecution.
Jaishankar&rsquo;s presence at the funeral is expected to carry symbolic weight, reflecting India&rsquo;s recognition of Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s legacy as Bangladesh&rsquo;s first woman prime minister and one of the architects of its modern democratic journey.

Jaishankar to Attend Khaleda Zia Funeral in Dhaka

India’s EAM pays tribute as Bangladesh mourns its first woman Prime Minister

Jaishankar to Attend Khaleda Zia Funeral in Dhaka

India’s EAM pays tribute as Bangladesh mourns its first woman Prime Minister

December 31, 2025 | 24:40 IST