What happened:
On December 31, 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka and handed over a personal condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Jaishankar conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India and expressed confidence in Zia’s legacy guiding future bilateral ties.
Why it matters to India:
The outreach signals India’s intent to maintain engagement across Bangladesh’s political spectrum during a sensitive transition period and underscores New Delhi’s focus on stability and continuity in India–Bangladesh relations.