Bangladesh declares three-day state mourning for Mandela

Bangladesh has declared a three-day state mourning from Saturday to pay tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela, who passed away Thursday night.

The national flag will fly at half-mast during the next three days at government, semi-government and autonomous organisations, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad, Xinhua reported citing a cabinet division statement.

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of Opposition Khaleda Zia in separate messages expressed profound shock at the death and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family members of Mandela.

The former South African president, a symbol of reconciliation from a country with a brutal history of racism, passed away at the age 95 due to complications from a recurring lung infection.

The globally revered statesman spent 27 years in prison fighting against apartheid and led South Africa to a multi-racial democracy, becoming its first non-white president.