His Excellency Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, attended the state funeral held in honour of the late Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in Dhaka on 31 December 2025, serving as the Special Envoy of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The visit underscored the Maldives’ respect for Bangladesh and its people during a moment of national remembrance, while reflecting the close ties shared across South Asia through long-standing people-to-people connections and cooperation in areas such as education, labour, and skills development.
During the funeral engagements, Minister Dr Haidar conveyed condolences from President Dr Muizzu, the Government, and the people of the Maldives to Mr Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of the late former Prime Minister, as well as to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh. In parallel with the condolence visit, the Minister also met with visiting Foreign Ministers of Nepal, Bhutan and India, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Pakistan, holding discussions on regional cooperation and shared interests, an exchange that highlights the continued importance of constructive dialogue and coordination among neighbouring countries on issues of mutual benefit.
Begum Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and served three times in the position, remaining a widely recognised figure in the country’s modern political history. Her legacy, and the dignified tributes observed in Dhaka, drew regional attention and reaffirmed the value placed on public service and national leadership across the region.
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