Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Bala Nanda Sharma on Wednesday attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Begum Khaleda Zia
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.
Foreign Minister Sharma also met with the son of late Begum Zia and the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman and conveyed condolences to the latter on behalf of the Government and people of Nepal.
Sharma noted that Begum Zia was a distinguished statesperson who played a significant role in Bangladesh’s political and democratic journey, according to the Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka.
Rahman thanked Foreign Minister Sharma for paying his last respects at the funeral and expressed hope that the excellent friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to flourish in the days ahead.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Sharma called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
On the occasion, he handed over to the Chief Adviser a message from the Prime Minister of Nepal Sushila Karki, extending her deepest condolences on the demise of Begum Zia.
In her message, the Prime Minister noted with gratitude the significant role Begum Zia played in strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations, particularly during her three tenures as the Prime Minister.
Foreign Minister 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.
The Chief Adviser expressed his gratitude for Nepal’s true friendship and its enduring support to the Government and people of Bangladesh ever since the country’s independence, including during the difficult times.
Sri Lankan FM meets Tarique Rahman
The two leaders also deliberated on the excellent state of Nepal-Bangladesh relationship and explored ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, energy, connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Foreign Minister Sharma also held a meeting with Adviser for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Md. Touhid Hossain and handed over to him a personal letter of condolences.
Foreign Adviser Hossain thanked Foreign Minister Sharma for attending the funeral and expressed appreciation for the consistent support extended by the Government of Nepal on all occasions.
The Foreign Minister is on a visit to Bangladesh from 30 December 2025 to 01 January 2026 to attend the state funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia. He will depart Dhaka for Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon.