90,000 tonnes of Indian rice, wheat for flood victims
Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Veena Sikri formally handed over the receipt of a consignment of 90,000 metric tonnes of rice and wheat as relief from India to Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, minister for food and disaster management, at a function in the city yesterday.
Out of the total amount, 15,000 metric tonnes of rice have already reached Chittagong port and were deposited in the silo. Rest of the rice and wheat will gradually reach Bangladesh by June.
The relief was equivalent to rupee 100 crore committed by the government of India for the victims of a massive flood in Bangladesh in 2004.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. At the function, the Indian high commissioner said India had committed 100 crore rupees as relief during the flood. But Bangladesh government sought food instead of money. Accordingly, the Indian government decided to send food instead of money.
The minister thanked the government of India and hoped that the ties between two next-door neighbours would be strengthened through this aid for the flood victims.