New Delhi:
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde, who died during a road accident, describing him as a "distinguished" political leader who was a "good friend" of her country.
In a condolence message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ms Hasina said Mr Munde's "untimely demise is a huge loss for your government, the country, the people, and the party.
"All would be deprived of the service that he was just about to deliver in his new capacity. You have lost a distinguished political leader and we have lost a good friend of Bangladesh", she said.
Ms Hasina said that "in this hour of grief, on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh and also on my own behalf, I would like to extend to the government and the people of India and to the members of the bereaved family, our heartfelt condolences".