DHAKA, Aug 10, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh’s aid, including nine metric tons of food items and two metric tons of medicines and medical supplies, today reached the Lebanese capital of Beirut that was shattered last week by a huge explosion leaving 160 people, including five Bangladeshi nationals, dead.
The C-130J transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) boarding one army and four navy officers and 12 BAF crew members with the aid landed at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut today, a press release issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon said.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Lebanon, Major General Md. Jahangir Al Mustahidur Rahman handed over the goodwill aid to the nominated local representative of the Lebanese government.
The officials of Lebanese defense ministry, UNIFIL and Bangladesh embassy officials were present during the occasion.
On August 4 at around 6 pm (local time), two powerful explosions took place at the port of Beirut in the Lebanese capital, Beirut that caused extensive damage to the Beirut port and its 10 km radius.
The blast killed more than 160 people, injured more than 6,000 others and left more than 300,000 homeless so far. Besides, 5 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed and more than 100 are injured in the explosion, said the release.
Bangladesh Navy’s warship, BNS Bijoy which patrols Lebanese water territory under UNIFIL, was partially damaged in the blast and 21 officers and sailors were injured.