Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Bangladesh prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, remembering her contributions to bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.
Taking to X, PM Modi said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Khaleda Zia’s passing in Dhaka. He extended condolences to her family and the people of Bangladesh, wishing them strength to cope with the loss.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged Zia’s role in advancing diplomatic engagement between the two neighbouring countries, noting that her “important contributions” to India–Bangladesh relations would always be remembered. Recalling their meeting in 2015, PM Modi said he hoped that her vision and legacy would continue to guide the partnership between the two nations.
Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80 after battling illness for several days, according to a statement issued by her party earlier on Tuesday. A towering figure in Bangladeshi politics, she made history in 1991 by becoming the country’s first woman prime minister and later served a second term from 2001 to 2006. Her long-standing political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina shaped Bangladesh’s political landscape for decades.
Her death comes at a significant political moment, just days after her son Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh following 17 years in exile in London. PM Modi’s tribute also carries added significance amid former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in India after her removal from office in August 2024.