Bangladesh`s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said the "SAARC spirit is alive", underlining that South Asian nations came together to share the country`s "grief and sorrow" at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Top leaders from across South Asia, including India`s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, attended Zia`s funeral in Dhaka on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on social media, the Chief Adviser`s office said Yunus was "deeply moved" by the respect shown by SAARC member states for the three-time prime minister and the world`s second female Muslim head of government. During meetings with visiting South Asian leaders, Yunus repeatedly emphasised the need to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), it said.