Farooq Abdullah Commends EAM Jaishankar's Visit to Bangladesh for Khaleda Zia's Funeral

Farooq Abdullah has commended External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for attending the funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Abdullah believes that this visit will enhance the longstanding friendship between India and Bangladesh. During his trip, Jaishankar expressed condolences on behalf of the Indian government and met with Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman. He also delivered a personal letter from Prime Minister Modi, highlighting the importance of Zia's contributions to democracy. This visit comes as India seeks to strengthen ties with Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming elections in February 2026.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 1, 2026, 15:04 IST

Farooq Abdullah's Remarks on Jaishankar's Visit

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, praised External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for his trip to Bangladesh to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah emphasized that Jaishankar's visit would strengthen India-Bangladesh relations. He expressed his satisfaction that the Foreign Minister attended the funeral, stating, 'Bangladesh is our long-time friend, and we should enhance this relationship to fortify our ties.'

Jaishankar Expresses Condolences in Dhaka

During his visit to Dhaka on Wednesday, Minister Jaishankar conveyed condolences on behalf of the Indian government and its citizens regarding the passing of Khaleda Zia. He participated in the funeral proceedings, where the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Riaz Hamidullah, noted that the Minister acknowledged Zia's contributions to democracy and expressed hope for strengthening ties through the upcoming elections in February 2026.

Strengthening Ties Ahead of Upcoming Elections

New Delhi aims to bolster its relationship with Bangladesh ahead of the elections scheduled for February. On Wednesday, Jaishankar met with Tarique Rahman, the acting president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of Khaleda Zia, to express India's heartfelt condolences. In a post, Jaishankar mentioned, 'Upon arriving in Dhaka, I met with Tarique Rahman, the acting president of BNP and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.'

Personal Letter from PM Modi

Jaishankar also delivered a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman, stating, 'I conveyed deep condolences on behalf of the Indian government and its people.' He further expressed confidence that Khaleda Zia's vision and values would guide the development of their partnership. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister, passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. She was a significant figure in national politics, having led the country for three terms and played a crucial role in restoring democracy after years of military rule.