India has expressed deep respect following the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. On Wednesday, December 31, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar handed over an official condolence message from the Government of India to BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the National Parliament complex in Dhaka. In the message, India described Khaleda Zia as a 'symbol of courage and struggle' and honored her unwavering commitment to Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. Dr. Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka earlier that day at 11:55 a.m. on a special Indian Air Force flight and was received at the Bashar Air Base by Foreign Ministry Secretary M. Forhad Hossain, along with Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranab Verma. Khaleda Zia, who served as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister three times, passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday, December 30, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.