Jaishankar to represent India at Khaleda Zia’s funeral in Dhaka

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia on Wednesday (December 31)

The announcement by the MEA on Tuesday (December 30) comes at a time when the relationship between the two countries has come under strain following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in a violent student-led agitation.

“The External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, will represent the Government and people of India at the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He will accordingly visit Dhaka on 31 December 2025,” the MEA stated in a release.

Zia’s death after prolonged illness

Zia died following a prolonged illness early on Tuesday, her personal physician had confirmed. She was 80. Zia breathed her last while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Also Read: Khaleda Zia obituary: Bangladesh’s accidental PM with a lasting legacy

Family members were present at the hospital at the time of her death, including her elder son Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman.

Also present were the wife of her late younger son Arafat Rahman Coco, Syeda Shamila Rahman, and Coco’s daughters Jahia Rahman and Jafia Rahman.

Hospitalised on November 27

Zia’s younger brother Shamim Eskander and his wife Kaniz Fatema, her sister Selina Islam, and other close relatives were also at the hospital. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was among those present.

Also Read: Yunus, Hasina, Modi offer condolences as Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia dies

Zia had been admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 for routine medical tests, during which doctors detected a chest infection and placed her under observation.

Her condition deteriorated on November 27, leading to her transfer to the Coronary Care Unit.

Reasons behind strained ties

Bangladesh on Sunday (December 28) rejected India’s concerns regarding the safety of Hindu minorities in the country, asserting that recent incidents involving members of the community were isolated criminal acts and not indicative of any systemic persecution.

Also Read: Khaleda Zia’s death marks the end of an era in Bangladesh politics

Responding to remarks by the spokesperson of the MEA, Dhaka said the statements did not reflect the situation on the ground and were based on inaccurate and exaggerated accounts.

India had said it remained deeply concerned over continuing violence against minority communities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, and urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure their safety.

Anti-India protests in Bangladesh

The ties between the two countries have also soured following the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi after which anti-India protests reportedly took place in Bangladesh.

Also Read: Not 'anger' or 'revenge' but 'love and peace' will rebuild Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Sunday (December 28) said two primary suspects in the murder have crossed the border to take shelter in India, Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported.

The head of the interim government in Bangladesh has also expressed its displeasure over Hasina taking refuge in India following the student agitation that ousted her government.