IANS
Dhaka, Nepal



Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mourned the death of former Indian president A P J Abdul Kalam, the media reported yesterday.
Kalam died on Monday following cardiac arrest.
The world lost an efficient nuclear scientist with the demise of Kalam, President Hamid said in a message.
Hamid also recalled Kalam’s contribution to aeronautical engineering, bdnews24.com reported.
Prime Minister Hasina wrote to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi late Monday, calling Kalam ‘one of the most famous sons of India and a great scientific mind of his time’.
“In president Kalam, we saw the rare combination of a great statesman, an acclaimed scientist and a gifted writer.”
“His invaluable contribution to India’s rise in the sphere of science and technology would be remembered forever by all,” Hasina said in the letter.
She said Kalam took Bangladesh-India relations to a great height when he was the president.
“I am deeply saddened by his death,” she said.
In Kathmandu, thousands of Nepalis, including leaders, expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Kalam on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Within minutes of the news of Kalam’s death late on Monday evening, many posted photos of the Indian missile man and his famous quotes on Facebook.
“Hearty tribute to Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Deep condolence to the government and people of India,” said former deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, in a message.
“He never got old. That was his charisma. What a hero - Abdul J Kalam ! love you !” a woman journalist Anjali Subedi wrote on her Facebook wall.
People from all sections of society and age groups joined to express their grief over Kalam’s death who last visited Nepal in 2008 during the convocation ceremony of Kathmandu University.
Hundreds of people either translated in Nepalese or chose to use his famous quotes verbatim on Twitter and Facebook.
“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep,” a message giving one of Kalam’s quotes said.

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