DHAKA: A 39-member Bangladesh medical team comprising doctors and nurses Monday left for Karachi to conduct medical campaign for the affected people of recent devastating floods in Pakistan, a competent source said.  

The medical team led by Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad would stay in Pakistan for nearly four weeks to help tackle a humanitarian debacle. The team left for Karachi at 3pm by a PIA flight.

Earlier, Bangladesh decided to send relief worth TK 14 crore and a medical team to Pakistan to help the flood victims.

Foreign Secretary Mohammad Mijarul Quayes saw the medical team off at Hazral Shah Jalal International Airport while Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Ashraf Qureshi was also present.
 
Mijarul Quayes told reporters at the VIP Lounge of the airport that Bangladesh would send 54 tonnes of medicines, 500,000 water-purification tablets, 10,000 blankets, 5,000 tents, oral saline, biscuits, child foods and medical equipment.

Already 11 tonnes of medicines have been sent to Pakistan, he said, adding that these relief supplies and medical team are being sent as a “symbol of brotherhood and humanity’.

Ashraf Qureshi expressed his gratefulness to Bangladesh for its generosity towards the flood victims of Pakistan.

BDST: 1830 HRS, SEPT 6, 2010