Pakistan's speaker, Indian, Nepalese FMs among top foreign dignitaries to attend Khaleda's funeral
They will pay their last respects to Khaleda Zia on behalf of their respective countries
A number of high-level dignitaries, including from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives, will join former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's funeral on Wednesday (31 December) to pay their last respects to her.
"The External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former prime minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He will accordingly visit Dhaka on 31 December," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement yesterday (30 December).
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will represent the country at Khaleda Zia's state funeral.
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Earlier in the day, the Pakistan government announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would represent the government and people of Pakistan at the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Hours later, they revised the decision, announcing that the speaker of the parliament will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday to attend Khaleda Zia's funeral.
Nepalese Foreign Affairs Minister Bala Nanda Sharma will also attend the state funeral of the former prime minister of Bangladesh.
The foreign minister's visit reflects Nepal's deep respect for the late leader's contributions to strengthening Nepal–Bangladesh relations during her three tenures as prime minister, said the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the visit, Minister Sharma will be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6am yesterday (30 December) while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 79.
Born on 15 August 1946, Khaleda Zia led the BNP for decades, navigating periods of political upheaval, imprisonment and political comeback.
She served as prime minister for three terms, from 1991 to 1996, a few weeks after February 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.
The late BNP chairperson is recognised as the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and the second elected woman prime minister in the Muslim world.
Following her death, leaders and heads of government from different countries around the world have expressed deep shock and condolences.
