India, Bangladesh turn a new leaf
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka has set a constructive tone for India-Bangladesh relations, with both sides looking to open a new chapter guided by shared interests, pragmatism and mutual interdependence.
In a post on X, Hamidullah described Jaishankar’s visit as meaningful, noting that discussions during the trip reflected a forward-looking approach to bilateral ties.
He said India and Bangladesh were keen to deepen engagement based on practical cooperation and regional interlinkages, an outlook that was also briefly discussed with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chair Tarique Rahman.
The high commissioner also highlighted that Jaishankar conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India following the death of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
According to Hamidullah, the external affairs minister acknowledged Khaleda Zia’s role in strengthening democratic institutions and expressed optimism that India-Bangladesh ties would continue to grow in the backdrop of Bangladesh’s forthcoming democratic transition.
Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka earlier on Wednesday on a special flight to personally convey India’s condolences. During his visit, he met Tarique Rahman and handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a social media post, Jaishankar said the letter conveyed India’s deepest sympathies and reaffirmed confidence that the late leader’s values and vision would continue to guide the partnership between the two countries.
The Prime Minister, in his message, recalled his past interactions with Begum Khalida Zia, describing her as a leader of strong resolve and the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh. He noted her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations, while expressing confidence that her legacy would endure through continued democratic engagement and cooperation between the two neighbours.
Bangladesh is observing a public holiday on Wednesday and has entered three days of state mourning following Khaleda Zia’s death on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. A towering figure in Bangladeshi politics, she served three terms as prime minister and played a key role in restoring democracy after years of military rule. Officials and diplomats see Jaishankar’s visit and the Prime Minister’s outreach as an important signal of continuity and goodwill, underscoring India’s intent to maintain close ties with Bangladesh during a sensitive moment and to work towards a stable, cooperative future for the region.
Dr S Jaishankar has returned from Dhaka after paying condolences on the passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. In continuation of India’s outreach, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is now set to visit the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on January 1 to pay tributes to the Khaleda Zia.
