Bangladesh has offered assistance to Nepal as devastating flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border killed at least 362 people and left several hundred missing, prompting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to express solidarity with the disaster-hit country.
Prime Minister Tarique expressed deep shock over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and the people of Nepal.
“We stand ready to extend any support that Nepal may need at this time of distress,” Tarique said in a condolence message.
The disaster struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, with flash floods and landslides devastating settlements and leaving a trail of destruction.
Aid workers said entire settlements had been “wiped out”, while footage from the affected border region showed a massive surge of debris sweeping away vehicles and infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Khalilur on Thursday followed up Bangladesh’s offer of assistance in a phone conversation with his Nepalese counterpart Shisir Khanal.
Terming the disaster a “terrible tragedy”, Khalilur conveyed Bangladesh’s condolences and said the country stood ready to provide whatever assistance Nepal might require.
He said no casualty involving a Bangladeshi national had been reported so far and sought the Nepalese government’s cooperation should any Bangladeshi be found among those affected.
Khalilur also conveyed Tarique’s personal condolence message to the Nepalese prime minister and reaffirmed Dhaka’s solidarity with Kathmandu.
The Nepalese foreign minister thanked Bangladesh for its support and said authorities were still assessing the full extent of the devastation.
Nepal would communicate any specific assistance it required from Bangladesh once the comprehensive damage assessment was completed, he said.
The diplomatic outreach comes as rescue teams continue searching for hundreds of people whose whereabouts remain unknown following one of the region’s deadliest recent flood disasters.
Bangladesh’s offer leaves the nature and scale of possible assistance open until Nepal identifies its requirements, with Dhaka signalling its readiness to respond once Kathmandu completes its assessment.
