Jaishankar Hands Modi’s Condolence Letter To Rahman
Soon after arriving in the Bangladeshi capital, Jaishankar met Rahman, the son of Khaleda Zia, and conveyed India’s deepest condolences over her death. Khaleda Zia passed away early on Tuesday following a prolonged illness.
New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman, as thousands of people gathered in Dhaka to bid farewell to former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia at her funeral.
Soon after arriving in the Bangladeshi capital, Jaishankar met Rahman, the son of Khaleda Zia, and conveyed India’s deepest condolences over her death. Khaleda Zia passed away early on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. The external affairs minister is representing India at the funeral.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India. He also expressed confidence that Khaleda Zia’s vision and values would continue to guide the development of India-Bangladesh relations.
Foreign policy observers note that the development comes amid strained ties between New Delhi and Dhaka following the banning of the Awami League led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina by Bangladesh’s interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus. They point out that India is now keenly watching the BNP’s prospects in the forthcoming general elections in February, hoping that an elected government would help restore normalcy in bilateral ties.
The BNP, now led by Tarique Rahman, is expected to face a tough electoral challenge from the Jamaat-e-Islami, which has been spearheading anti-India campaigns, reportedly with the backing of the interim government.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier on Tuesday expressed grief over Khaleda Zia’s demise, recalling her contributions as Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and her role in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations. He also recalled his meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015 and said her vision and legacy would continue to guide bilateral ties.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the MEA said Jaishankar would represent the Government and people of India at Khaleda Zia’s funeral and would visit Dhaka on December 31, 2025.