DHAKA (MNN); An informal interaction took place on Wednesday between National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, sources said.
According to sources, the two leaders briefly exchanged a handshake and polite remarks during condolence meetings held after the funeral prayers in Dhaka. The interaction occurred as delegations from various countries were offering condolences to Khaleda Zia’s family, including her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, at the National Parliament Complex.
Funeral prayers for Khaleda Zia were held in front of Bangladesh’s Parliament House, where thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects. Bangladesh’s Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also attended the prayers.
Pakistan was represented at the ceremony by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while senior officials and political leaders from across South Asia were also present. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, was later laid to rest with full state honours.
The brief Pakistan-India exchange attracted attention in diplomatic circles, particularly in view of strained relations between the two countries following the Pahalgam incident and a brief military escalation in May this year. Tensions had also extended to the sports arena, with India’s cricket team declining to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup, a move described by the Board of Control for Cricket in India as official policy.
Despite these tensions, sources said Wednesday’s interaction remained cordial and informal, limited to a handshake and an exchange of pleasantries.
