Mahmood Ali attends Vajpayee’s funeral

AH Mahmood Ali
AH Mahmood Ali

Foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali on Friday afternoon attended the funeral of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi, reports UNB.

He offered a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh at the funeral to show respect to one of the towering leaders of India.

Bangladesh high commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali accompanied him at the last rites of the veteran leader, said the high commission.

In the evening, foreign minister Ali met Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and personally conveyed the condolence on behalf of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

While talking to Indian media, the minister said Bangladesh remembers Vajpayee for his contribution to its Liberation War and strong support to its people.

Vajpayee had also great liking for Bengali music, he said.

Earlier, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said Vajpayee was great friend and highly respected in Bangladesh.

As a token of recognition for his invaluable contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, the Bangladesh government conferred on him the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour.

His last rites were performed at SmritiSthal with state honour. The mortal remains of Vajpayee were taken to BJP’s national headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in the morning. People from all walks of life paid homage to him.

Vajpayee, who led the National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004, was the first-ever member of the BJP to become India’s prime minister.

The central and all state governments have declared a seven-day mourning to show respects to the former prime minister.

The King of Bhutan, ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius attended the funeral ceremony. Among the Indian leadership, president, vice president, prime minister, other cabinet ministers of India and other dignitaries attended the funeral ceremony.

Vajpayee, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), died on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 93. He had suffered a stroke in 2009.