Navigating Uneasy Currents: Dr. Jaishankar Honours Khaleda Zia's Last Journey in Dhaka

The passing of Begum Khaleda Zia came at a moment when Bangladesh’s politics is once again at a crossroads.  Her unfortunate demise on December 30, 2025, closed a formidable chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. At 80, the former Prime Minister and long-time chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) left behind a legacy layered with contestation, conviction, and consequence.

Dhaka responded with three days of state mourning and a funeral with full state honours. India responded by sending its External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, to represent the government and people of India. On the surface, it looked like protocol. Beneath it, something more deliberate was unfolding.

A Farewell That Carried More Than Grief

State funerals often blend ceremony with symbolism. This one did more. By dispatching its top diplomat to Dhaka on December 31, India signalled that it was listening closely to Bangladesh’s political mood at a sensitive time.

The timing mattered. Bangladesh stands on the threshold of another electoral cycle, with the BNP once again testing its political footing. In that context, India’s presence carried a message far louder than any condolence note.

In diplomacy, presence speaks long after words fall silent. India chose to show up, quietly and respectfully, at a moment when every gesture was being read for intent. That choice revealed as much about India’s future calculations as its respect for the past.

Khaleda Zia and India: Neither Friends Nor Foes

To grasp the significance of Jaishankar’s visit, one must revisit Khaleda Zia’s long and uneasy engagement with New Delhi. It was never a relationship of warmth, but neither was it one of rupture.

During her first term in the early 1990s, ties remained functional yet restrained. Trade talks continued. Water-sharing discussions dragged on. Progress was slow, trust slower.

During her second term, Indian diplomats in Dhaka often described engagement as “correct but cold", where, despite meetings being held and agreements discussed, trust was not guaranteed.

The chill deepened between 2001 and 2006. India’s requests for transit access to its Northeast were resisted. Border and water disputes hardened. Dhaka’s growing defence ties with Beijing raised eyebrows in New Delhi.

Yet even then, doors never fully closed. Khaleda Zia visited India, bilateral mechanisms stayed alive, and cooperation, despite being limited, continued. Even at moments of strain, buses crossed the Petrapole–Benapole border each morning, traders haggled as usual, and river waters flowed south, reminding both capitals that politics could slow cooperation but never stop geography.

Sovereignty Versus Partnership

Khaleda Zia’s worldview contrasted sharply with that of her rival, Sheikh Hasina. Where one leader spoke the language of partnership, the other spoke the language of sovereignty—but both ultimately understood that Dhaka and New Delhi could never afford indifference.

This contrast shaped India’s cautious approach to her leadership. New Delhi neither embraced nor alienated her entirely. It engaged, watched, and waited. To understand why this moment matters, one must look beyond condolence and into calculation.

Why Jaishankar’s Presence Mattered

India’s decision to send Jaishankar, rather than a lower-level representative, was a calibrated signal. It acknowledged Khaleda Zia as a former head of government, regardless of past disagreements. More importantly, it separated political friction from diplomatic principle.

At a time when anti-India rhetoric has sharpened in parts of Bangladesh’s political discourse, this restraint stood out. New Delhi chose dignity over defensiveness.

Showing up also countered a familiar narrative that India only engages when its preferred allies are in power. By paying respects to a leader often perceived as politically closer to Pakistan than India, New Delhi projected confidence, not anxiety. What, then, does New Delhi hope to achieve by showing up at such a moment? The answer lies as much in the future as in the funeral.

The Election Horizon and a Subtle Hedge

With Bangladesh’s 2026 general elections approaching, uncertainty hangs thick in the air. The BNP is repositioning itself. Political rhetoric is intensifying. Alignments could shift.

India’s presence during a moment of national mourning serves as a quiet hedge. It signals readiness to engage with whichever political configuration emerges so long as mutual interests are respected.

This approach reduces the risk of sudden diplomatic shocks. It also keeps channels open at a time when silence could easily be misread as bias or indifference.

In South Asia, perception often precedes policy. India understands this well.

Repairing a Bridge Without Rebuilding It

Khaleda Zia’s interests had not aligned with India in the past. Yet India’s subtle closure to her legacy refurbishes a bridge that once bore the weight of mistrust. It does not rebuild that bridge anew, but it reinforces its foundations by acknowledging history without being trapped by it.

This act of respect allows New Delhi to recalibrate without retreating. It creates room for future engagement while avoiding the promise of immediate breakthroughs.

The value here lies in the process, not payoff. Presence creates predictability. Predictability creates space. And space allows diplomacy to breathe.

Quiet Diplomacy in a Loud Region

No policy announcements followed Jaishankar’s visit. None were expected. The significance lay elsewhere.

By maintaining continuity during a politically charged moment, India contributed to a stabilising rhythm in bilateral ties. This steadiness matters in a region where symbolism often shapes reality.

It also reinforced India’s long-standing neighbourhood principle of engaging across political divides, not just with friendly faces.

Presence as Policy

In the end, Jaishankar’s visit was less about Begum Khaleda Zia’s past and more about Bangladesh’s future. It acknowledged complexity without amplifying conflict. It respected sovereignty without withdrawing engagement.

By choosing presence over posture, India reaffirmed a simple truth that relationships endure when politics change. As Bangladesh mourns a towering figure and looks ahead to another decisive election, India has quietly ensured it remains part of the story.

In South Asian diplomacy, that quiet assurance may matter more than any loud declaration ever could.