This meeting is particularly significant as it is the first high-level face-to-face interaction between India and Pakistan since Operation Sindoor in May. The handshake comes against a backdrop of sporting controversies, including the Asia Cup cricket series, where the Indian team had declined to shake hands with Pakistani players and also refused to accept the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Nawaz, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and a government minister.
During the visit, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman. The gesture underscores India’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic decorum while expressing solidarity during national mourning in Bangladesh.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and a prominent leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, passed away at the age of 80 after spending nearly three weeks on a ventilator. Her death prompted the Bangladeshi government to declare three days of national mourning, during which all official events were postponed and government buildings flew the national flag at half-mast.
The funeral was held at the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) complex, in Zia Udyan near the grave of her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman. The ceremony drew a massive turnout, with estimates of around one million people attending from across Bangladesh. Party workers, supporters, and citizens lined the streets to pay their final respects, while her son Tarique Rahman addressed the crowd beside her coffin. Interim government head Mohammad Yunus was also present at the funeral, along with other dignitaries and political leaders.
The event highlighted not only the legacy of Khaleda Zia in Bangladeshi politics but also the diplomatic interactions it facilitated. Analysts note that while the handshake between Jaishankar and Sadiq does not signify a policy shift, it reflects a mutual willingness to maintain decorum and dialogue during significant regional occasions.
India’s engagement at the funeral reinforces the country’s focus on Bangladesh as a key partner in South Asia, while also navigating delicate relations with Pakistan. Observers suggest that such gestures could help reduce tensions and create channels for communication amid ongoing regional complexities.
