Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences on the demise of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia at the age of 80. Jiya was ill for a long time. Modi recalled her contribution to the country’s development and India-Bangladesh relations as the first woman PM of Bangladesh.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) President Begum Khaleda Zia. He expressed his condolences to his family and the people of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Modi said he was “deeply saddened” to hear the news of Khaleda Zia’s demise at the age of 80. He prayed to give his family the strength to bear this loss.
The BNP statement read, “Khalida Zia passed away at around 6:00 am, just after Fajr prayers.” The statement further said, “We pray for the peace of her soul and request everyone to pray for her departed soul. Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital Dhaka due to a lung infection on November 23. The former Prime Minister was suffering from several physical ailments including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis and kidney problems for a long time. Earlier this month, she was flown to London for better treatment of her ailments.
Recalling her political legacy, PM Modi in his post said that as the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia made significant contributions to the development of the country and India-Bangladesh relations. He also said that his vision and legacy will continue to guide bilateral relations. As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her significant contribution to the development of Bangladesh as well as India-Bangladesh relations will always be remembered. I fondly remember my meeting with him in Dhaka in 2015. We hope his vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. may his soul rest in peace.”