Foreign Minister in Dhaka for Khaleda Zia’s Funeral

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath departed for Dhaka, Bangladesh, this (31) morning to attend the state funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female Prime Minister and a towering figure in South Asian politics.

Khaleda Zia, aged 80, passed away yesterday (30) morning after being hospitalized for several days due to illness. 

Her death marks the end of an era for Bangladesh, where she served as Prime Minister and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades.

Today’s funeral proceedings will be held at the Bangladesh Parliament complex with full state honors, drawing top dignitaries from across the region. 

Among those attending are India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dhar, underscoring Khaleda Zia’s regional influence.

Following the official ceremony, Khaleda Zia’s remains will be laid to rest beside her husband, former President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, at his gravesite.