EAM Jaishankar to attend Khaleda Zia's funeral in Dhaka on December 31

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be travelling to Dhaka in Bangladesh to attend the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 31. This will be India's first such senior visit to Bangladesh since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government was overthrown following a massive students-led protest.

Khaleda Zia, who played a major role in restoring democracy after a period of tumultuous military rule and dominated the country's politics for decades, died on Tuesday, December 30, following prolonged illness.

An official statement mentioned that Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia, former prime minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

He will accordingly visit Dhaka on December 31, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the death of Khaleda Zia and said, “Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss.”

“We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” the prime minister said.

Khaleda Zia died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old. She will be buried with full state honours beside her husband, late president Ziaur Rahman. Her funeral will be held after Zohr prayers at Parliament's South Plaza and the adjoining Manik Mia Avenue, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said.

The interim government of Bangladesh also announced a three-day state mourning and one-day general holiday in honour of Khaleda Zia.

In a televised address, Muhammad Yunus announced, “At the death of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, I declare three days of state mourning and a one-day general holiday tomorrow on the day of her Namaz-e-Janaza.”

“I know that all of you are deeply saddened at this time. I hope that you will show patience during this time of mourning and cooperate with all those concerned who are involved in observing the formalities, including her Namaz-e-Janaza,” he said.

The ties between India and Bangladesh strained after Sheikh Hasina fled to India, where she has remained. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Hasina's extradition. She was sentenced to death in absentia in November for orchestrating a deadly crackdown on the uprising.

India has also recently criticised the alleged attacks on minorities after the killing of student leader Osman Hadi who was also instrumental in organising the protests against Sheikh Hasina.

(With agency inputs)