Bangladesh to send aid for flood victims

Bangladesh will send emergency relief aid to Sri Lanka in the wake of floods and landslides in the country as a follow-up to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive.

A minister, who saw the prime minister off at the airport as she left for Japan on Thursday morning, told bdnews24.com she had issued the instruction before leaving for Tokyo.

“A special Bangladesh air force aircraft will carry the materials tomorrow (Friday). We are sending materials worth over Tk 100 million in line with the needs of Sri Lanka,” the minister, who did not wish to be named, said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a media invitation to cover the event later said a C-130 aircraft carrying emergency relief items would leave Dhaka on Friday morning.

The health ministry in a statement said it had prepared a list of drugs to be sent to Sri Lanka following the prime minister’s instructions.

The drugs include oral saline and water purifying tablets. About 300,000 Sri Lankans have been affected by floods and landslides since last week. Over 200 people were killed.

The prime minister earlier extended her condolences in a message to President Maithripala Sirisena. She reaffirmed Bangladesh's solidarity and support for the government as well as people of Sri Lanka.(bdnews24.com)