DHAKA: As Friday’s declaration of the government, people started observing three-day national mourning from Saturday to pay homage to South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

A handout on Friday said: “Bangladesh will observe three-day national mourning from December 7 to December 9 to show respect to Mandela, an anti-apartheid icon and true friend of Bangladesh.”

The national flags are flying at half-mast at all buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous bodies, educational institutes and all Bangladesh missions abroad.

Nelson Mandela, first black president of South Africa, died Friday at the age of 95.

BDST: 0859 HRS, DEC 07, 2013