S Jaishankar leaves Dhaka after paying last respects to Khaleda Zia

Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar has left Dhaka after paying his last respects to BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He departed Dhaka on Wednesday, December 31, shortly before evening on a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

During his brief visit, Jaishankar conveyed condolences to Khaleda Zia’s bereaved family and delivered a special message from Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

An official at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said Jaishankar arrived in the city earlier in the day and left at around 5:00 pm. During the visit, he met BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and expressed deep respect and sympathy over Khaleda Zia’s death.

He also exchanged greetings and held brief meetings with the chief adviser’s national security adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and interim government adviser for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Dr Asif Nazrul, conveying India’s condolences.

As part of the visit, Jaishankar also exchanged greetings with several South Asian ministers present in Dhaka, including Pakistan’s parliamentary speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who had come to pay respects to Khaleda Zia.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Jaishankar is the first Indian minister to visit Dhaka.