Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid homage to veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu at the West Bengal Assembly where his body lay in State.
Ms. Hasina, who is accompanied by a 30-member high-profile delegation from Bangladesh, stood before the body for about five minutes and placed a wreath. She spoke to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and waved at the mourners.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister H.M. Ershad, who was also part of the delegation, paid floral tributes to the late Basu.
The delegation included four of her cabinet colleagues besides leaders of some of the constituents of the ruling 24-party Grand Alliance including Ershad’s Jatiya Party.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Awami League General Secretary and Local Government and Rural Development Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury were part of the delegation.
Ms. Hasina, who had arrived here by a Bangladesh Air Force flight, is scheduled to return in the evening.