External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman and Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq during his visit to Dhaka for the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The visit came amid strained ties between India and Bangladesh since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed power.
Jaishankar represented India at Zia’s funeral and handed over a letter of condolence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to her son, Tarique Rahman.
Zia, a three-time prime minister and BNP chief, died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. Rahman, the party’s acting chairman, is seen as a frontrunner for the prime minister’s post in the February 12 elections.
During their meeting, Jaishankar acknowledged Zia’s contribution to democracy and expressed hope for stronger India-Bangladesh ties after the polls. His visit to Dhaka lasted around four hours.
Jaishankar also briefly met Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, marking the first such interaction since Operation Sindoor. Government sources said nothing should be read into the exchange of greetings. The meeting took place in a room where senior ministers and dignitaries from neighbouring countries had gathered for the funeral. Jaishankar was also seen interacting with Nepal’s new foreign minister Balananda Sharma.
A photograph of Jaishankar and Sadiq was shared by Yunus, with a caption noting their exchange of greetings ahead of the funeral ceremony.
India has expressed concern in recent months over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh following the change in government. Dhaka’s growing closeness with Pakistan and China under the Yunus-led administration is also being closely monitored in New Delhi.