The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, has expressed deep sorrow at the death of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, three-time former Prime Minister, and Chairperson of the BNP. The written condolence message, addressed to Professor Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, was sent to the Bangladesh High Commission in London on 7 January 2025.
In her condolence message, the Commonwealth Secretary-General wrote, “It is with sadness that I learnt of the passing of the former Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia. On behalf of the Commonwealth family, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and to all the people of Bangladesh during this period of state mourning.”
The Commonwealth Secretary-General described Begum Khaleda Zia as a towering figure and a trailblazer in Bangladesh’s political arena who broke barriers as the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. “Her leadership across three terms demonstrated her unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Bangladeshi people.” “Her legacy extends beyond the borders of Bangladesh, as she served as a source of inspiration for women’s leadership across South Asia and throughout the Commonwealth,” said the Commonwealth Secretary General.
Following the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, three-time former Prime Minister, and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Bangladesh High Commission in London has opened both physical and online Books of Condolence for the host country as well as for all Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to the Court of St. James’s.
A number of Ambassadors and High Commissioners based in London visited the Bangladesh High Commission in person to sign the Book of Condolence and pay their respects. Those who signed the physical Book of Condolence included H.E. Mr. Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Faisal, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Kingdom; H.E. Mr. Vikram K. Doraiswami, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to the United Kingdom; H.E. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Nimal Senadheera, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; H. E. Dr. Rajeshwar Jeetah, High Commissioner of Mauritius; Mr Spyros Miltiades, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of Cyprus and Zhang Zhixin, Minister at the Chinese embassy to the UK. Mr. Talal Alabsi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Mr. Aleksandr Khlopianov, Senior Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation; and Mr. Ben Mellor, Director, India and Indian Ocean Directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
In addition, several Diplomatic Missions based in London conveyed their condolences through the online Book of Condolence. These included the Embassy of Austria, the High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Embassies of Algeria, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Malta, Brazil, Egypt, Guatemala, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Togo.
Besides, Apsana Begum MP On behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh and Rushnara Ali, MP sent their condolences via online.
