Bangladesh ready to provide assistance to Nepal: Foreign Minister

Bangladesh is ready to provide Nepal with any assistance it may need following the devastating floods and landslides that have killed at least 165 people and left more than 1,500 missing, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said on Thursday (August 27).

Khalilur Rahman spoke by phone with his Nepali counterpart Shishir Khanal this morning and conveyed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s full solidarity with the government and people of Nepal.

He also conveyed a personal message of condolence from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Expressing deep sorrow on behalf of the Bangladeshi government and people, Khalilur Rahman described the disaster as a “terrible tragedy” and conveyed sympathy and prayers for the families of those killed.

Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh had so far received no reports of Bangladeshi nationals being killed or injured in the disaster. He asked the Nepali government to inform Dhaka if any Bangladeshi citizen is found to have been affected so that Bangladesh can extend necessary assistance.

Khanal thanked Bangladesh for its solidarity and support during the crisis, saying Nepali authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage.

“Once the situation is fully assessed, we will determine what kind of assistance is needed,” the Nepali foreign minister said.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction in several areas, with homes swept away, roads submerged and bridges washed away by powerful currents of mud and floodwater. Rescue operations have been hampered by heavy rain and difficult terrain.