Bangladesh completes rescue mission in Myanmar

Bangladesh has successfully completed humanitarian activities and rescue operations in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March.

After completing the operations, the Bangladeshi team, comprising Army rescue personnel, doctors, nurses and fire-service personnel, left Myanmar yesterday (13 April) by Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Somudra Avijan and they are scheduled to arrive in Chattogram tomorrow, said a foreign ministry's press release today (14 April).

In addition to the rescue operations, Bangladesh delivered 151.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, including food, medicine, tents, drinking water, blankets, clothing, hygiene products, and other essential items after receiving requests from the government of Myanmar.

"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," said the foreign ministry.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus sent a letter of condolence to his Counterpart of 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 30 March to 12 April, 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 30 March.

Another three Bangladeshi aircrafts (two C-130J and one CASA C295) carried 15 tonnes of relief and a 55-member rescue and medical team to Nay Pyi Taw in the second phase on 1st April.

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 11 April.

Bangladesh Ambassador in Myanmar handed over the assistance to Myanmar's authorities in three phases.

Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar also engaged the expatriate Bangladeshi community members in Myanmar in humanitarian activities in Mandalay city, said the release.