The cabinet with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the chair yesterday announced that the national flag will be kept half-mast today .

The president, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition have expressed profound grief over the death of King Fahd.

The Bangladesh leaders also congratulated Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud as the new King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Defense Minister Sultan bin Abdel Aziz as the Heir Prince.

President Iajuddin Ahmed left for Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral ceremony of King Fahd. He is leading a 10-member delegation that includes State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin.

The president in his condolence message sent to the new King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who succeeded his brother, expressed deep shock at the death of King Fahd.

"He (King Fahd) was the most respected leader of his people and symbolised the unity and solidarity of the entire Muslim Ummah," the president said.

"The late King will be long commemorated among all his friends and admirers for his prudent leadership and individual contribution to the cause of peace, stability and progress of the humanity. He was also a close and revered well-wisher of Bangladesh," he said.

The president prayed to Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and courage and fortitude to the bereaved members of the royal family and the people of the kingdom to withstand the irreparable loss.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also expressed profound shock at the demise of King Fahd.

In her message to the new King Abdullah, she said, "His [Fahd's] demise is an irreparable loss for the Kingdom as well as the entire Muslim Ummah."

She noted that King Fahd's sagacious leadership was a source of inspiration to remain united for the Muslim brethren all over the world.

"The late King's great service for the Muslim world and his noble deeds of charity and assistance for the poor humanity will long be remembered with reverence," she said.

Khaleda Zia said the brotherly relations between the two countries reached a new height in different areas of cooperation during the reign of King Fahd.

"The people of Bangladesh will ever recall his very kind attention and care for the service of the people of Bangladesh," she added.

She prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul and divine blessing for the bereaved family and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.

Awami League chief and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina expressed her profound shock at the death of King Fahd.

In her message, she recalled the late King's leadership in strengthening the Muslim Ummah as custodian of the two holiest places of the Muslim world.

Hasina prayed for peace of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved members of the royal family.

Sheikh Hasina also welcomed Prince Abdullah as the new King, expressing the hope that bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries will further strengthen under his dynamic leadership.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan also expressed deep shock at the death of King Fahd and sent a message of condolence to his Saudi counterpart.

Meanwhile, the condolence messages of the president and the prime minister were formally handed over to the Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka Abdullah M Al-Obaid Al-Namla, who called on the foreign minister yesterday afternoon.

Subsequently, the messages of congratulation were also handed to the ambassador, official sources said.

Talking to the reporters, Morshed Khan said the people and the government of Bangladesh joins in the mourning with the Saudi people at the demise of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz.

After attending the funeral, President Iajuddin will meet with King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud on behalf of the people and government of Bangladesh, the foreign minister said.

Recalling the great contribution of Kind Fahd, he said relations between Bangladesh and KSA further cemented during the tenure of the late King.

He expressed the hope that bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries will strengthen further under the dynamic leadership of King Abdullah.