Staff Reporter :
At the invitation of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the Chinese National Emergency Medical Team arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to assess injuries and provide emergency humanitarian medical assistance.
Upon arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), the team was welcomed by Yao Wen, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Sheikh Sayidul Haque, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), during a brief and solemn ceremony.
The event was held under the theme: “Across Mountains and Rivers, Standing Together in Solidarity.”
Ambassador Yao acknowledged the civilian suffering caused by the recent uprising in Bangladesh.
In his statement, he said, “As the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partner, the Chinese government expresses its condolences to the victims and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the injured.
China and Bangladesh have been supporting each other through thick and thin, and the Chinese people deeply empathise with the hardships faced by the Bangladeshi people.”
The Chinese National Emergency Medical Team’s arrival marks the first foreign emergency medical assistance sent to Bangladesh since the formation of the Interim Government. The deployment of the team follows an invitation extended by Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus and the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
“The Chinese Government has decided to send the National Emergency Medical Team to Bangladesh to help assess injuries and provide necessary humanitarian medical assistance based on Bangladesh’s needs, including dispatching additional medical teams and supplies as required,” Yao Wen added.
SPECIALISED MEDICAL SUPPORT
Dong Qian, Head of the Chinese National Emergency Medical Team and Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Emergency Response at the National Health Commission (NHC) of China, elaborated on the team’s mission.
“With coordination from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and support from the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, we have come to Dhaka to provide humanitarian assistance,” Dong Qian said.
The team, composed of experts from West China Hospital—one of China’s premier medical institutions—specialises in various medical fields including general surgery, trauma care, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, critical care, and ophthalmology.
GRATITUDE FROM BANGLADESH
On behalf of the Bangladeshi Government, Sheikh Sayidul Haque expressed deep gratitude to China for sending the emergency medical team.
“This is the first medical team sent by a foreign government to Bangladesh since the establishment of the Interim Government,” Haque noted.
He also highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two nations, saying, “Whether fighting COVID-19, dengue, or floods, our Chinese friends have always stood by the people of Bangladesh.”
Haque assured full cooperation from the Bangladeshi side, stating that all necessary support would be provided to ensure the success of the mission. “We hope that with the help of our Chinese friends, more of the injured will recover as soon as possible,” he said.
The medical team is expected to conduct on-site assessments and provide immediate care to those affected by the recent violence, with the possibility of additional teams being sent as required. The Chinese government has also pledged to provide essential medical supplies in support of ongoing recovery efforts.
STRENGTHENING BILATERAL RELATIONS
This mission underscores the strong bilateral ties between China and Bangladesh, with both nations reiterating their commitment to supporting each other during crises.
The collaboration between the two countries, in areas ranging from healthcare to disaster management, has only deepened over the years, further cementing their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.