Minister Sharma attends Khaleda Zia's funeral

Kathmandu, Dec. 31

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bala Nanda Sharma attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Begum Khaleda Zia, in Dhaka, on Wednesday.

A floral wreath was laid at the burial site of the mortal remains of late Khaleda Zia on behalf of the Foreign Minister and the Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka informed in a statement.

FM Sharma also met the son of the late Begum Zia and the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman and conveyed condolences. According to the Embassy, FM Sharma noted that Begum Zia was a distinguished statesperson who played a significant role in Bangladesh’s political and democratic journey.

Rahman expressed hope that the excellent friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to flourish in the days ahead. 

In the afternoon on Wednesday, FM Sharma called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus where he handed over him a message from the Prime Minister of Nepal Sushila Karki, which noted the significant role Begum Zia played in strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations, particularly during her three tenures as the Prime Minister.

FM Sharma underscored that she would be remembered for her contributions to the growth and development of Bangladesh, and for her strong advocacy of regional cooperation and solidarity.

Chief Advisor, Dr. Yunus expressed his gratitude for Nepal’s true friendship and its enduring support to Bangladesh ever since the country’s independence, including during the difficult times, read the statement. The two leaders also deliberated on the excellent state of Nepal-Bangladesh relationship. They explored ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, energy, connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Foreign Minister is on a visit to Bangladesh from December 30, 2025, to 1 January 2026 to attend the state funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia. He will leave Dhaka for Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 January 2026.