Bangladesh sends 100t food, medicines to Maldives

A Bangladesh Navy ship is set to sail for the Maldives on Wednesday carrying over 100 tonnes of food, medicines and medical equipment as assistance from Bangladesh, reports BSS.

As per the directive of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the foreign ministry along with the Bangladesh High Commission in Maldives is facilitating delivery of the supply in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic cases being detected in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a foreign ministry press release said.

Bangladesh Navy, management and relief ministry, directorate general of drug administration, relevant district administrations and other concerned authorities as well as some local pharmaceutical companies have worked together to gather the assistance materials for Maldives.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen is in touch with his Maldivian counterpart and has reiterated Bangladesh’s solidarity with the Maldives in facing the threat of COVID-19 together, the release added.

Bangladesh has also pledged US$ 1.5 million to the COVID-19 regional fund of SAARC proposed by India during the South Asian leaders’ video conference on 15 March 2020.