By IANS,
New Delhi : Both houses of parliament Thursday observed a minute’s silence in tribute to Bangladesh president Zillur Rahman, who passed away in Singapore Wednesday.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari led the upper house in paying tribute.
“President Rahman was a patriot and a man of high ideals who served his country and people with utmost distinction over the decades. His public life was marked by a spirit of sacrifice and simplicity,” Ansari said.
The house, he added, “joins the leadership and the friendly people of Bangladesh in mourning the demise of the president and conveys deep condolences to his family”.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar said: “President Rahman was a champion of friendly relations between India and Bangladesh and was held in the highest esteem by the people of India.”
Members in both the houses stood in silence for a minute in the memory of the Bangladesh president.
Rahman, 83, died at a hospital in Singapore following respiratory problems.