PM Modi’s First Meeting With Khaleda Zia: What BNP Chief Told Indian PM In 2015 About Democracy In Bangladesh | India News

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia breathed her last on December 30 at the age of 80. As condolences poured in from across the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his meeting with Zia in 2015, when he was among the opposition leaders and the Indian Prime Minister was visiting Dhaka. Recalling this meeting, PM Modi wrote to X: “I remember my warm meeting with him in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that his vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership.” Prime Minister Modi also expressed his condolences to the family.

However, it is interesting to know what happened between the two leaders during the historical meeting. At that time, Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Zia was part of the opposition. During the meeting, Zia raised some important issues related to democracy in Bangladesh.

What Zia Said to Modi

During the meeting, former Bangladesh Prime Minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to play a role in the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. He told Modi that there were no democratic processes in the country and argued that real development would not be possible without people’s voices being heard.

According to BNP leader and spokesperson Dr Moin Khan, Zia emphasized Modi’s emphasis on regional cooperation through SAARC and stressed the need for parallel efforts to revive democracy in Bangladesh. He added that Modi is known for his strong views on democracy and is well aware of the current situation in the country.

What Did MEA Say at the Meeting?

Speaking at a press conference, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar said a number of issues were discussed and the BNP leader actually complimented the Prime Minister for his leadership in ratifying the LBA. “He has expressed that he supports the free movement of goods in the region and beyond. He has expressed that he is against all forms of terrorism and extremism. I think on our side, generally speaking, I am answering your question right now, he has made it clear that we support democracy and are against religious fundamentalism and terrorism,” Jaishankar said.