In a spirit of friendship and good neighborly relations as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will be sending a significant quantity of medical supplies, worth 200 million Bangladesh Taka (US$ 2.3 million) to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture to help the latter tide over the on-going economic crisis.
A ceremony of token handing over of the medicines was held on May 5 at the State Guest House Padma.
Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, MP and Health Minister Mr. Zahid Maleque, MP, handed over few boxes of medicine as a token to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Prof. Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne. The event was also attended by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen, MD & CEO of EDCL and DG (Drugs).
President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries (BAPI) Mr. Nazmul Hassan, MP also graced the ceremony.
In his short remarks, Foreign Minister, Dr. Momen termed the offer of medicine, as the expression of solidarity and friendship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, at a time when two countries are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. He added that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh never hesitates to extend assistance to any nation in difficulties, in particular, to its neighbors for ensuring shared peace and prosperity in the South Asian region. He assured that Bangladesh stands ready to support Sri Lanka in all possible ways.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner, while making his remarks, expressed gratitude of the government of Sri Lanka to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the government of Bangladesh for this friendly gesture of supplying medicine for the people of Sri Lanka. He noted that Sri Lanka values the friendly relationship with Bangladesh and committed to further strengthening it in the coming days. He termed the gifting of the medicines, was another demonstration that the trajectory of the bilateral relations was moving in the right direction.
Both EDCL and BAPI have contributed medicine of BD taka 100 million each, Taka 200 million in total as gifts to Sri Lanka. The medicine is expected to reach Sri Lanka within few days’ time.
The offer of medicine would certainly manifest capability of the pharmaceuticals industries in terms of its ability in producing high quality medicine, financial capacity and it also demonstrates Bangladesh’s foreign policy resolve of maintaining friendly and cooperative relations with her neighbors. Earlier, Bangladesh supported Sri Lanka by providing US$ 200 million through a currency swapping arrangement.
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