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Download PDF this morning on a daylong visit for a first hand assessment of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Sidr.
His visit also aims to convey the Indian people’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh in their hour of need, said an official of the High Commission of India in Dhaka.
“In the aftermath of the severe cyclone in Bangladesh on November 15, 2007, which had caused heavy loss of lives and widespread destruction in coastal areas, India has readily come to the
assistance of Bangladesh with a sense of urgency,” the high commission official said.
During his visit, Pranab will meet Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, according to a news release of the Indian high commission.
He will also visit some cyclone affected areas, including Sharankhola of Bagerhat and Patharghata of Barguna today, and meet a cross-section of people to get a first hand idea about the ongoing relief efforts.
Sources said the Indian EAM is scheduled to reach Sharankhola, one of the worst affected upazilas, at 3:00pm. He will then fly to Patharghata on a Bangladesh Air Force helicopter before returning to the capital.
On his return from the cyclone hit area, Pranab will talk to the media.
In keeping with India’s close ties with and empathy for the people of Bangladesh, over the last few days India has been expeditiously delivering relief materials to Bangladesh consisting of medicines, tents, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, and portable water-purifiers through Indian air force transport aircraft IL-76, the news release added.
India is also sending essential food items as aid to Bangladesh including rice, wheat, and milk powder worth almost 100 crore rupees.
Mukherjee’s visit will coincide with the last consignment of India’s aid of medicines, tents, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and portable water-purifiers, scheduled to be delivered by the Indian air force in Dhaka this morning.
Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to hand over the consignment to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at Zia International Airport at 9:30am.
Earlier, in a special dispensation, India also waived the ban on export of rice to Bangladesh, allowing it to import 50,000 metric tons of rice.
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