News Flash
DHAKA, April 16, 2025 (BSS) – The relief, rescue and medical assistance team of Bangladesh Armed Forces returned home yesterday (Tuesday) after successful completion of their fortnight humanitarian assistance mission in Myanmar.
At the directive of the Chief Adviser, a relief, rescue and medical assistance team of Bangladesh Armed Forces was sent to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake on March 28 to assist earthquake victims.
On their return, the team was given a special reception at Army Multipurpose Complex of Dhaka cantonment here today, an ISPR release said.
Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan handed over memento to each member of the team.
Military, Naval and Air Attachés of Myanmar in Dhaka, along with senior officials of the Army, Navy, Air Force and various ministries were present.
Earlier, Director General of the Operations and Planning Directorate of the Armed Forces Division Brigadier General Md Alimul Amin briefed on the humanitarian aid sent by Bangladesh government and the overall activities of the Bangladesh rescue and medical team.
He gave sincere thanks and gratitude to each member of the team on behalf of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Special gratitude was given to all the government and non-government organizations for supporting the humanitarian initiative, especially the Chief Adviser’s Office, Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar, Foreign Ministry, Health Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
According to the ISPR release, the mission conducted the operation in three phases. In the first phase 16.5 tons of emergency relief aid was sent to Myanmar on March 30 through two aircraft of Bangladesh Army and Air Force.
In the second phase, army and air force sent three aircrafts on April 1 carried a 55-member rescue team along with medical equipment and 15 tons of relief materials.
The third phase of humanitarian assistance was conducted by the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Somudra Avijan, which sailed from Chittagong on April 8 carrying more than 120 metric tons of different relief items.
A total 151.5 tonnes of relief materials was sent to Myanmar from Bangladesh, which was one of the highest relief aid sent from all over the world for the disaster-stricken people of Myanmar.
Bangladesh rescue and medical support team reached Dhaka on April 15 by a navy ship after completion of the humanitarian mission in Myanmar.
The ISPR said Bangladesh rescue team conducted several important rescue operations in Nay Pyi Taw. One of major rescue operation was recovery of a 68-year-old woman’s body from ground floor of a collapsed four-story building, who died during the earthquake.
As the building was very risky to carry out operation, other rescue teams denied to engage in operation, so Bangladeshi team successfully completed the operation on April 3, as Myanmar authorities requested them, according to ISPR.
Seeing the success of the team, Myanmar assigned Bangladesh team to retrieve important items from three partially destroyed buildings of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was also done successfully.
Apart from this, Bangladesh rescue team helped identify vulnerable and safe locations in 45 damaged residential buildings, clinics, shopping malls, etc in different areas of Nay Pyi Taw.
Bangladeshi team formulated a coordinated plan to conduct joint rescue operations in the destroyed building of the Nay Pyi Taw Central Fire Service Station. Later the Myanmar authorities conducted rescue operations according to the plan.
Bangladeshi medical assistance team provided medical services in the 50-bed Jabuthiri Hospital, an 100-bed hospital, and the 1,000-bed general hospital in Nay Pyi Taw.
The team consists of military and civilian specialist doctors and nurses, provided medical services to 885 patients, including 17 complex surgeries.
Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Shwe expressed gratitude and personally visited Bangladesh rescue team and hosted a lunch in honour of the team members.
Public representatives and high-ranking officials of Myanmar participated in various planning and coordination meetings of the rescue and medical assistance with the Bangladesh team.
Myanmar government organized a formal farewell on April 10 for Bangladesh team which was attended by Vice Chairman of the State Council, Deputy Commander of the Myanmar Defense Service Vice Senior General Soe Win, Union Minister for Home Affairs, Minister of Health and Sports, and many high-ranking officials.
The activities of rescue team were widely covered by the print and electronic media of Myanmar, ISPR said.
