Neighbouring country India has conveyed its condolences over the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The condolence message was formally handed over to her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday afternoon.

According to BNP media cell sources, Dr Jaishankar met Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where he personally delivered India’s message expressing deep respect and sympathy at the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia. 

Tarique Rahman’s daughter Zaima Rahman and several senior BNP leaders were present during the meeting.

Earlier in the day, at around 11:30am, the Indian foreign minister arrived in Dhaka to pay his last respects to Begum Khaleda Zia. He travelled on a special flight of the Indian Air Force and landed at Bangladesh Air Force Base Bashar, where he was received by Foreign Ministry Secretary (Inter-Governmental Organisations and Consular Affairs) Md Farhad Hossain.

Begum Khaleda Zia’s namaz-e-janaza is scheduled to be held at Manik Mia Avenue at 2:00pm on Wednesday. She will later be laid to rest beside the grave of martyred President Ziaur Rahman at 3:30pm.

The three-time former prime minister passed away at 6:00am on Tuesday (December 30) while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. She was 79. (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un).

Born on August 15, 1945, Begum Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan.