Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq Share Cordial Handshake at Khaleda Zia’s Funeral in Dhaka

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had a brief, cordial interaction including a handshake and exchange of polite greetings on the sidelines of the state funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka today.

The encounter occurred at the late leader’s residence, where both officials had gone to offer condolences to her family. Reports indicate that Jaishankar approached Ayaz Sadiq’s seat to initiate the greeting. This rare direct engagement between senior Indian and Pakistani officials comes amid longstanding bilateral tensions and was limited to pleasantries, with no formal discussions.

Both leaders arrived separately in Dhaka that morning to represent their respective countries.

Dr. Jaishankar conveyed condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, handed over a personal letter from Modi, and met Khaleda Zia’s son, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq represented Pakistan on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also met the bereaved family.

The funeral itself drew large crowds for the namaz-e-janaza at Manik Mia Avenue near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with other dignitaries from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives in attendance.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister and longtime BNP chairperson, passed away on December 30, 2025, at age 80 after a prolonged illness. The event underscored her enduring legacy in Bangladeshi politics while highlighting a moment of regional diplomatic courtesy.