Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar delivers PM Modi's condolences to Khaleda Zia's son in Dhaka
Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu): India has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a veteran leader. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday by a special flight to convey India's condolences in this hour of grief. He delivered a message of condolence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered tributes on behalf of the Government of India and the people of India.
Jaishankar arrived with a message from PM Modi
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived at Dhaka airport around 11:30 am on Wednesday, where he was received by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah shared information on social media, stating that S. Jaishankar delivered PM Modi's condolence message to Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman. He conveyed that India stands firmly with the people of Bangladesh in this difficult time. Jaishankar respectfully remembered Khaleda Zia's long political career and her contribution to strengthening the democratic system.
She breathed her last on Tuesday
Begum Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and three-time prime minister, died on Tuesday in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80. News of her death has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh's political circles.
She took over at the age of 35 and became the first woman PM.
Khaleda Zia's political journey, spanning more than four decades, was filled with struggles and achievements. Her entry into politics was a coincidence. On May 30, 1981, her husband and then-President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in a failed military coup. At the age of 35, she stepped out of her home and entered politics. Circumstances brought her into politics, but she proved her leadership abilities, and after nearly a decade of struggle, she became Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister. Although her name was associated with corruption allegations and controversies in her later years, her influence in Bangladeshi politics remained intact.