By IANS,
Kolkata: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday paid her last respects to Communist veteran Jyoti Basu, expressing her gratitude for the helping hand he extended during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.
“We will always remember your contribution,” the Bangladesh prime minister wrote in the condfolence book kept in the state assembly.
In a touching gesture, Hasina flew to the city with several of her cabinet ministers to lay wreaths at Basu’s body.
Mourning Basu’s death, Hasina said: “The man Jyoti Basu, however, was larger than life. He lives in our heart.
“His death brings to an end a life lived to the fullest of its commitment to the people and to changing the lot of the oppressed,” she wrote.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi also paid glowing tributes to the Marxist patriarch. Writing in the condolence book, she described Basu as a pragmatic leader, who served the country with total dedication.
“On behalf of Congress party and on my own behalf, I mourn Comrade Jyoti Basu. A pragmatic leader of vision, of conviction, idealism and commitment, he served his country and party with total dedication and selflessness.”
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee wrote: “With the passing away of Jyoti Basu an era came to an end.”
Speaking to mediapersons at the N.S.C. Bose International airport here, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart L.K. Advani called Basu a great leader who put his party in a commanding position.
“Notwithstanding political differences, it is our duty to pay homage to a great leader like Basu. He had placed the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) in a commanding position in parliamentary democracy.”