Dhaka sends condolence as China observes mourning day

Bangladesh has expressed deep condolences at the loss of lives due to the coronavirus outbreak in China as the country is observing Mourning Day today.

"I'm very touched," said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in a message to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, expressing his sympathies for the victims' families.

The people and the government of Bangladesh are with the friendly people of China and the Chinese government to address this crisis, said Momen.

He thanked the Chinese government for taking care of a number of Bangladeshi citizens living in China at this tragic moment of coronavirus outbreak.

Dr Momen wished his Chinese counterpart good health, a long life and happiness.

He also wished the "great country" of China continued peace, progress and prosperity.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across China and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad; public recreational activities will remain suspended across the country, according to press agency Xinhua.

At 10:00am (Chinese time) on Saturday, Chinese people nationwide are scheduled to observe three minutes of silence to mourn, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of Covid-19 had been reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.