Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally written a letter as BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside her husband and late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who represented the government and people of India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia, handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to BNP acting chairman and Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman.

On arrival in Dhaka, Jaishankar met Tarique Rahman. “(I’ve) handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (I’ve) conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of India,” said the Indian Minister.

Jaishankar expressed the confidence that Khaleda Zia’s vision and values will guide the development of Dhaka-Delhi partnership.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma were, among others, present at the meeting.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma were present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to receive the Indian Minister.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow at the death of Khaleda Zia and hoped that her vision and legacy will continue to guide Dhaka-Delhi partnership.

“I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” PM Modi said in a message.

The Indian Prime Minister said he is deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Khaleda and hoped that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership.

“May her soul rest in peace,” Prime Minister Modi said in the message.

“Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss,” he said.

As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, PM Modi said, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as Bangladesh-India relations, will always be remembered.

Khaleda Zia, the then Leader of the Opposition, visited India at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister from 28 October to 2 November 2012.

Her last official visit to India was in March 2006 as the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She paid a state visit to India from 20 to 22 March at the invitation of the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

During the visit, she held comprehensive discussions with then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.