India sends 373 tonnes of relief for Rohingyas

Staff Correspondent, Chattogram: India has sent 373 tonnes of relief as its 2nd relief consignment for the forcibly displaced Rohingya people.

Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla handed over the relief materials to the Bangladesh government at the Chattogram Port on Wednesday. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hussain Chowdhury Maya on behalf of the Bangladesh government received the consignment.

An Indian navy ship carried the succour containing 104 tonnes of milk powder, 102 tonnes of dried fish, 61 tonnes of baby food, 50,000 raincoats and 50,000 pairs of gum boots.

“We hope this will bring some succour to the people living in camps," the Indian High Commissioner said, adding that another tranche containing 1 million litres of kerosene oil and 20,000 cooking stoves was expected to arrive soon.

He said New Delhi always stood by Bangladesh in times of need and responded swiftly to any crisis in Bangladesh as “our relation is based on trust, friendship and shared martyrdom that goes beyond strategic partnership”.

India earlier in September 2017 sent 981 tonnes of relief under its 'Operation Insaniyat' for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.

Disaster Management and Relief secretary Shah Kamal, relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Ilias Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Habibur Rahman, Chattogram port member Jafar Alam and Chattogram port secretary Omar Faruk, among others, were present during the handover ceremony.

After receiving the relief materials, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzel Hussain Chowdhury Maya thanked India and its people.


risingbd/Chattogram/May 9, 2018/Rezaul/AI