Bangladesh Armed Forces Complete Major Aid Mission in Myanmar

The Director General of the Directorate of Operations and Planning at the Armed Forces Division, Brigadier General Md Alimul Amin on Tuesday briefed the press on the recently concluded humanitarian mission carried out by the Bangladesh Armed Forces in Myanmar at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.

Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hassan was also present during the briefing.

On behalf of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, he expressed sincere gratitude to all parties involved in the successful execution of the operation, particularly acknowledging the support of the Chief Adviser’s Office, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Myanmar, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, among others.

Brig Gen Alimul said that the humanitarian mission, conducted in three phases, began on March 30 with the dispatch of 16.5 tonnes of emergency relief materials to Myanmar via two transport aircraft from the Bangladesh Army and Air Force.

In the second phase, on April 1, a 55-member rescue and medical support team along with 15 tonnes of relief supplies and rescue equipment were flown to Myanmar aboard one Army and two Air Force aircraft, he said.

The third phase saw the deployment of the Bangladesh Navy ship ‘BNS Somudra Avijan’, which transported an additional 120 tonnes of relief materials, arriving in Myanmar on April 8. In total, Bangladesh provided 151.5 tonnes of relief assistance, marking it as one of the largest international relief efforts in response to Myanmar’s recent disaster, he added.

He  said that the Bangladeshi rescue team conducted several critical operations in Naypyidaw, including the recovery of the body of a 68-year-old woman from the collapsed ground floor of a four-storey building. The structure was deemed highly dangerous, and other teams had declined to operate there. Upon arrival in Naypyidaw, Myanmar authorities requested the Bangladeshi team to carry out the mission, which was successfully completed at around 2.30 pm in local times on April 3.

Following this success, Myanmar entrusted the team with the recovery of vital equipment from three partially destroyed buildings under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a task that was also completed successfully. Additionally, the team helped assess 45 damaged structures, including residential buildings, clinics, and shopping centers, identifying risk levels to support further safety efforts, he added.

He said, the Bangladeshi team also formulated a coordinated plan for joint rescue operations at the heavily damaged Central Fire Service Station, which was later implemented by Myanmar authorities.

Meanwhile, the medical team operated in Naypyidaw’s 50-bed Zabuthiri Hospital, 100-bed Hospital, and 1000-bed General Hospital. The team, consisting of military and civilian medical specialists and nurses, treated a total of 885 patients and performed 17 major surgeries during their deployment, Brig Gen  Alimul Amin said.

In recognition of their humanitarian efforts, Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Shwe visited the team and hosted a luncheon in their honour. Senior government officials and public representatives also participated in various coordination meetings with the Bangladeshi contingent. Besides, on April 10, the Myanmar government organised an official farewell ceremony for the Bangladeshi team. Attendees included the Vice Chairman of the State Council, Deputy Commander of the Myanmar Defence Services Vice Senior General Soe Win, and Ministers for Home Affairs and Health and Sports, among other dignitaries.

The mission’s activities also received significant coverage in Myanmar’s print and electronic media.

Brig Gen  Alimul Amin also said that Bangladesh’s humanitarian assistance during this critical time reflects the country’s enduring spirit of compassion and solidarity with its neighbours. Officials noted that such efforts further strengthen the fraternal ties between the two nations. The Bangladesh Armed Forces remain committed and ready to undertake similar responsibilities at home and abroad under government directives in the future, he said.

Meanwhile, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hassan honoured each member of the rescue and medical team that participated in the Myanmar rescue operation with a commemorative crest at a special reception ceremony.

The event was held at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.

Senior officials from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with high-ranking representatives from various ministries, attended the ceremony. The Military, Naval, and Air Attachés of the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka were also present, reports UNB.