Nation to observe mourning Feb 9 for Turkey, Syria earthquake

The government of Bangladesh on Wednesday (February 8) announced a one-day state mourning for February 9 for the deaths of people in the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The Cabinet Division in a gazette notification said that the national flag would be kept at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous organisations, educational institutions, non-government buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad on Thursday.

Special prayers would also be arranged at all religious establishments, seeking the salvation of the departed souls of the people killed in Monday’s earthquake that killed more than 9,000 people in Turkey and Syria so far.  

The government has already sent condolences over the deaths in the earthquake and said in separate messages that it would stand in solidarity with the brotherly people of Turkey and Syria.