Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, attended the state funeral held in honour of the late Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, as the Special Envoy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

The state funeral was held this afternoon in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, with senior government officials, political leaders, and international dignitaries in attendance.

During the ceremony and related engagements, Minister Dr Haidar conveyed condolences from President Dr Muizzu, the Government, and the people of the Maldives to Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who is also the son of the late former Prime Minister, as well as to senior members of the government of Bangladesh.

As part of the visit, Minister Dr Haidar also held discussions with visiting Foreign Ministers of Nepal, Bhutan, and India, in addition to meeting the Speaker of the Parliament of Pakistan. The discussions focused on matters of regional cooperation and issues of shared interest.

The late Begum Khaleda Zia was the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh and served three terms in office. Her passing marks the end of a significant chapter in the country’s political history, with tributes continuing to be paid by leaders from across the region and beyond.