Dhaka: Bangladesh has successfully completed humanitarian activities and rescue operations in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, after completing the operations, the Bangladeshi team, comprising Army rescue personnel, doctors, nurses, and fire-service personnel, has left Myanmar on Sunday aboard the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Somudra Avijan. They are scheduled to arrive in Chattogram on Tuesday, as stated in a press release by the foreign ministry.
In addition to the rescue operations, Bangladesh delivered 151.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, which included food, medicine, tents, drinking water, blankets, clothing, hygiene products, and other essential items following a request from the government of Myanmar.
The foreign ministry remarked, ‘As a responsible neighbour and a champion in disaster management, Bangladesh stood beside the earthquake-affected people of Myanmar and responded immediately with humanitarian assistance.’
Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus sent a letter of condolence to his counterpart in the Myanmar Government and offered humanitarian assistance. The Chief Adviser’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces Division, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Myanmar coordinated relevant humanitarian activities.
From March 30 to April 12, in three phases, five Bangladeshi aircraft and one Navy Ship carried 151.5 tonnes of assistance, including food, medicine, tents, food packets, dry rations, drinking water, blankets, clothing, hygiene products, and other essentials to Myanmar.
In the first phase, two Bangladeshi aircraft (C-130J and CASA C-295) carried 16.5 tonnes of assistance to Yangon on March 30. Another three Bangladeshi aircraft (two C-130J and one CASA C-295) carried 15 tonnes of relief and a 55-member rescue and medical team to Nay Pyi Taw in the second phase on April 1.
The third phase of humanitarian assistance was conducted by the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Somudra Avijan, which sailed from Chittagong on April 8 carrying more than 120 metric tons of relief items and landed in Yangon on April 11. The Bangladesh Ambassador in Myanmar handed over the assistance to Myanmar’s authorities in three phases.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar also engaged the expatriate Bangladeshi community members in Myanmar in humanitarian activities in Mandalay city, said the release.