Published : 05 Jan 2026, 08:11 PM
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has visited the Bangladesh High Commission to pay his respects to Khaleda Zia.
According to a post by the Pakistan government on X, Shehbaz wrote his remarks in the visitors’ book during the visit, formally recording his tribute to the late leader.
On behalf of his government and the people of Pakistan, he expressed heartfelt sympathy to her family, party colleagues, and the people of Bangladesh, praying for the eternal peace of her soul.
According to a statement from the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, Shehbaz was received by Acting High Commissioner Israt Jahan, Press Counsellor Md Taiyeb Ali, and Counsellor (Consular) Sardar Mohammad Nomanuzzaman upon his arrival in the afternoon.
Accompanying the premier were Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
The Bangladesh High Commission noted that after signing the condolence book, Shehbaz Sharif participated in a special prayer for Khaleda’s soul.
“He also gratefully recalled [Khaleda’s] invaluable contributions to the development of bilateral relations and conveyed warm regards to the chief advisor of the Bangladesh government during their meeting,” the statement added.
It also said Shehbaz expressed hope for continued strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the future.
In appreciation of his visit, Acting High Commissioner Israt conveyed the interim government's sincere gratitude to the prime minister for taking time to sign the condolence book and pay tribute, noting the gesture as a mark of deep respect for Khaleda’s legacy.
Khaleda, BNP chairperson and Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, passed away on the morning of Dec 30 while undergoing treatment in hospital. Her funeral was held the following day in front of parliament, and she was later laid to rest with full state honours beside her husband Ziaur Rahman in Zia Udyan.
Pakistan had also been represented at her funeral by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly, who attended the ceremony in Dhaka on Dec 31.