Dhaka, Aug 8 (UNI) Bangladesh will send a medical team with emergency medical and food supplies to Lebanon as a huge explosion rocked the capital of the country Beirut on Tuesday that left 137 people, including four Bangladeshi nationals, dead.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momem informed it to his Lebanese counterpart Charbel Wehbe over the telephone on Friday, a foreign ministry press release said here today (Saturday).
During the conversation, Momen said Bangladesh is ready to provide any emergency support to Lebanon in this crisis period.
The foreign minister conveyed Dhaka’s deep condolence at the death of 100 people in the blast and also expressed gratitude to the Lebanese government for providing all cooperation, including treatment for the injured Bangladeshi nationals.
At least four Bangladeshi nationals were killed and around 100 others, including 21 Navy personnel, who are on duty at Beirut the port under UN peacekeeping mission was injured in the deadly explosion, Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon confirmed.
The deceased have been identified as Mehedi Hasan Roni and Rasel Miah from Brahmmanbaria, Mizan from Madaripur and Rezaul from Cumilla, Embassy’s first secretary (labour) Abdullah Al Mamun told UNI.
One of the injured Navy personnel admitted to American University of Beirut Medical Centre in a critical condition, while others were taken to Hamoud Hospital by helicopter or ambulance under the supervision of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The injured navy personnel are crew members of Bangladesh Navy’s battleship ‘BN Bijoy’, deployed at Beirut port was also damaged by the blast.
The BN Bijoy anchored only 200 yards from the blast scene, has been actively engaged in counterterrorism, rescue and surveillance operations and providing training to Lebanese Navy as part of the UNIFIL activities.
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