Dhaka reaffirms Iran ties at Khamenei funeral

Bangladesh has reaffirmed its longstanding ties with Iran as senior political leaders and delegations travelled to Tehran to participate in the state funeral and mourning ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after four months.

People from across the world, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, have been arriving in the Iranian capital to attend the funeral and pay their respects following Khamenei’s death during the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

Bangladesh strongly condemned the attacks on Iran and, following Khamenei’s death, political leaders, religious figures and people from different walks of life across the country expressed grief and solidarity with the Iranian people. Many also protested what they described as an unjust war against Iran.

Even, the Embassy of Iran in Dhaka and the Iranian Cultural Centre opened books of condolence after Khamenei’s death.

Political leaders from various parties and members of the public signed the books, conveying sympathy and expressing solidarity with Iran during its national mourning period.

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, arrived in Tehran on Thursday to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the state funeral. Upon his arrival, the delegation was received by Hamid Reza Haji Babaei. On Friday, the Speaker held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

During the meeting, Ghalibaf warmly welcomed the Bangladesh delegation and thanked Bangladesh for attending the funeral of the late Iranian leader.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed conveyed his profound condolences on the death of Khamenei and condemned what he described as his brutal killing.

He also expressed the solidarity of the Government and people of Bangladesh with the Government and people of Iran during the period of national mourning.

The Speaker highlighted the centuries-old friendship between Bangladesh and Iran and underscored the deep cultural and people-to-people links that have long connected the two countries.

He also praised Ghalibaf’s role in facilitating the recent peace memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that the agreement would contribute to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Iran and the wider region.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s support for dialogue and diplomacy, he said all parties should build on the current momentum to achieve a durable resolution to outstanding issues through peaceful means.
During the meeting, the Speaker invited Ghalibaf to undertake an official visit to Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Alongside the official delegation, a delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance also arrived in Tehran on Friday to attend the funeral and state mourning ceremonies.

According to a statement issued by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the delegation is led by the party’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament, Professor Mujibur Rahman. Other members include Rajshahi city Jamaat Ameer and MP Md Keramat Ali, MPs Md Nurul Amin and Pirzada Sayed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, Jamaat leader Dr SM Khaliduzzaman, and Nasiruddin Patwary of the National Citizen Party.

The delegation visited Iran from July 3 to July 9 at the invitation of the Iranian government.