Islamabad : Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to attend the State Funeral of Former Prime Minster of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia. On his arrival, he was received by the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Imran Haider.
NA Speaker visited the residence of the late former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, where he met her son, Tariq Rehman, and her daughter, and conveyed condolences on her sad demise. He also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Parliament, the Government, Field Marshal Syed Asim Muneer and the people of Pakistan. He noted that her services for the progress, prosperity, and welfare of the brotherly people of Bangladesh would always be remembered with respect. He also paid homage to Late Begum Khaleda Zia for her contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, during her tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
It is pertinent to mention that the visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly to Dhaka to attend the funeral of the late Begum Khaleda Zia reflects the honour and deep respect accorded to her by the Prime Minister, the Government, the Parliament, and the people of Pakistan, who regarded her as a sincere friend of Pakistan.
During the visit, Bangladesh’s National Security Advisor Mr. Khalil ur Rehman, Advisor on Law and Justice, Mr. Asif Nazrul and Acting Chairman of BNP, Mr. Tarique Rahman also met with the Speaker National Assembly, and discussed matters regarding bi-lateral relations and mutual interests.
While recording his impressions in the condolence book during his visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh, where representatives of foreign ministers and other high-level delegations were present, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, personally approached the Speaker of the National Assembly, introduced himself during a handshake, and noted that he was familiar with the Speaker. This interaction marked the first significant high-level contact initiated by the Indian side following the Pakistan-India conflict in May 2025. It is noteworthy that Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks and joint investigations into the alleged False Flag Pahalgam incident, in order to prevent unprovoked aggression and escalation.
During NA Speaker’s visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh to inscribe his remarks in the condolence book, in the presence of foreign ministers and delegates of different countries, the Indian External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar approached the Speaker National Assembly and shaked hands. During this interaction, Dr. S. Jaishankar introduced himself to the Speaker and told the Speaker that he had recognized him. This interaction marked the first significant high-level contact initiated by the Indian side following the Pakistan-India conflict in May 2025. It is noteworthy that Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks and joint investigations into the alleged False Flag Pahalgam incident, in order to prevent unprovoked aggression and escalation.
Later on, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq attended the state funeral of the late Begum Khaleda Zia and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant her the highest ranks in Jannat-ul-Firdous, and to bestow patience and strength upon her bereaved family and the people of Bangladesh to bear this irreparable loss.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
