According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be visiting Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral of the late leader. The former Bangladeshi PM passed away early on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness at the age of 80
PM Modi shared a photo with former Bangladeshi PM Khaleda Zia, who passed away in Dhaka on Tuesday. Pic/X
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral of the former Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, who was also the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar will be visiting Dhaka on Wednesday for the funeral, reported news agency IANS.
Zia passed away early on Tuesday morning in Dhaka after a prolonged illness at the age of 80, her party confirmed.
According to a statement issued by BNP, Zia died around 6 am at Evercare Hospital in the national capital, where she had been undergoing treatment for over a month, reported IANS.
The former Bangladeshi PM was admitted to the private hospital on November 23 after developing serious complications involving her heart and lungs.
However, various reports further suggested that she was also battling pneumonia during her final days. She remained under close medical observation for 36 days, with doctors describing her condition as fragile, IANS reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, India’s PM Narendra Modi also expressed deep sorrow over Zia's death. Taking to social media, PM Modi remembered Zia as a historic leader whose contributions to Bangladesh and relations with India will always be remembered.
ঢাকায় সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী ও বিএনপি চেয়ারপার্সন বেগম খালেদা জিয়ার পরলোকগমনের সংবাদে গভীরভাবে শোকাহত।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025
তাঁর পরিবার এবং বাংলাদেশের সকল মানুষের প্রতি আমাদের আন্তরিক সমবেদনা। সর্বশক্তিমান যেন এই অপূরণীয় ক্ষতি সহ্য করার শক্তি তাঁর পরিবারকে দান করেন।
বাংলাদেশের প্রথম নারী… pic.twitter.com/Aezd2Hl7x6
"Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh," PM Modi wrote on X.
Hailing her leadership, PM Modi further wrote, "As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered. I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace."
Khaleda Zia was suffering from multiple medical conditions
Over the years, Zia had struggled with multiple chronic ailments, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and long-standing complications affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyesight. Her treatment was overseen by a team of specialists from Bangladesh and abroad, including doctors from the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Australia.
Earlier this month, there were efforts to shift her to another country for advanced treatment. However, the doctors ultimately advised against international travel due to her weakened condition.
The widow of former President Ziaur Rahman, Zia, made history as Bangladesh’s first woman PM and served two terms in office.
(With inputs from IANS)
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