President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to their Bangladeshi counterparts to convey their condolences over the crash of a Bangladeshi airliner in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Monday.

US-Bangla Airlines Flight BS211 was attempting to land when it crashed near the Kathmandu airport, killing more than 40 people. The plane, carrying 71 people, had taken off from the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.

In her letter to Bangladeshi President Md Abdul Hamid, Madam Halimah expressed the people of Singapore's deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

"Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, and those who were injured in this tragic accident," she wrote.

Writing to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, PM Lee expressed his "great sorrow" and extended Singapore's condolences to the families of those who died in the crash.

"Our thoughts are with them at this time of grief," he said.

Mr Lee has also written to his Nepali counterpart, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, to convey his condolences over the tragedy.

In his letter, Mr Lee said: "On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Singapore, I extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families in Nepal who lost their loved ones in this tragedy."

"Our heartfelt sympathies also go to those who were injured in this tragic accident," he added.