19 Bangladeshi students shifted to Ankara

At least 19 Bangladeshi students have been shifted to Ankara from Gaziantep, one of the most affected regions of Turkey, which suffered a major earthquake killing over 17,000 people since Monday.

"The 19 students were relocated to Ankara and our consulate there is taking care of them," said foreign ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin at the weekly media briefing today.

Turkey and Syria are struggling to conduct rescue operations amid freezing cold and snow, and the authorities of the countries are seeking assistance like winter clothes, medical, and non-medical items.

Sabrin, who is the director general of the public diplomacy wing at the foreign ministry, said two Bangladeshi students – Nure Alam and Golam Sayeed Rinku – who were injured are under treatment in Ankara and are free of danger.

"Our embassy in Turkey is maintaining communication with the families," she said.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh sent a 61-member rescue and medical team to Turkey. It will support rescue operations and provide various humanitarian assistance. Bangladesh yesterday observed a state mourning day for the victims of the earthquake.

"Sending a rescue team to Syria is also under active consideration of Bangladesh. It is yet to be finalised," Sabrin said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan at a media briefing said he was touched by the pouring of love and assistance from Bangladeshis.

"We have decided not to receive cash assistance but we request everyone to deliver in-kind assistance," he said as thousands of people who lost their homes in the catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires and clamored for food and water in the bitter cold.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) launched a campaign to receive assistance from Bangladesh, said Ambassador Turan, reports UNB.

Bangladeshi citizens are pouring love and support for their Turkish brothers and sisters through their messages. "We will never forget this type of solidarity," he said.

Turkish Airlines will carry the goods free of cost while the government of Bangladesh will facilitate customs clearances for quick delivery of those assistance.

Next one or two days will be very crucial to save more lives as his country is struggling to overcome the enormous challenges being hit by twin earthquakes and many aftershocks.

The ambassador expressed gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh for coming forward instantly after the earthquake. No Bangladesh citizen has so far been affected.

A former Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh who was posted in one of the affected provinces remains missing soon after the earthquake hit there.