Bangladesh Air Force plane reaches Beirut with food and medical relief

A transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force with goodwill aid of nine tonnes food and two tonnes of medicines and medical supplies reached Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport today.

Bangladesh government on behalf the country's people sent the goodwill aid for Lebanese people, following a devastating blast on August 4 at Beirut's port which killed more than 160 people and left over 6,000 injured.

The blast left over 300,000 people homeless.

The aircraft, also carrying a convoy of four high level officials of Bangladesh Navy, an official of Bangladesh Army, and 12 crew members of Bangladesh Air Force, landed at the airport around 7:00am (local time), said a press release issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Lebanon Maj Gen Md Jahangir Al Mustahidur Rahman handed over the goodwill aid to Lebanese government's nominated representative, said the release.

Officials of Lebanese Defense Ministry, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and Bangladesh embassy were present at that time, it said.

On August 4, two powerful explosions took place at the port of Beirut, extensively damaging establishments at the port and its 10km radius.

Bangladesh Navy's warship BNS Bijoy, which was patrolling Lebanese water territory under UNIFIL, was partially damaged and 21 officers and sailors were injured.

So far, five Bangladeshis have died and over 100 injured in the explosion.