Senior regional leaders and foreign dignitaries on Wednesday conveyed condolence messages and paid their final respects to former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, as Bangladesh observed a day of national mourning following her death a day earlier.
Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman met visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, and Bhutan’s Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. The advisers expressed gratitude to the visiting dignitaries for standing in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at a time of profound national loss.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar formally handed over a message of condolence to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, son of the late leader, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The message, delivered on behalf of the government and people of India, was shared by the BNP media cell as a mark of respect following the passing of the three-time former prime minister.
Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka at 11:30am on a brief visit to attend Khaleda Zia’s funeral. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also conveyed Islamabad’s condolence message to Tarique Rahman during a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. According to a post shared on the BNP’s verified Facebook page, the message expressed Pakistan’s “deep respect” for Khaleda Zia, describing her as the “Mother of Democracy” and a “symbol of courage and struggle,” and an uncompromising leader committed to safeguarding independence and sovereignty.
Sadiq arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day to represent the Government of Pakistan at the funeral. He was received at the airport by the Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with his flight landing at around 11:50am.
Bhutan also sent high-level condolences, with a delegation led by Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, minister for foreign affairs and external trade, attending the state funeral following a royal command. The Bhutanese delegation participated in prayers and ceremonial proceedings, reflecting the kingdom’s formal respect for the late leader. Condolence messages from the King, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and the Prime Minister of Bhutan were handed over to Tarique Rahman, as Lyonpo Dhungyel conveyed sympathies on behalf of the people and government of Bhutan.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma attended the funeral on behalf of his government and later met Tarique Rahman to express condolences. He also paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Bala Nanda arrived in Dhaka the previous night to join the funeral proceedings.
BNP chairperson and three-time former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside her husband, late president Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. She was buried around 4:30pm with state honour, following her namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
