Bangladesh declares a day of mourning and a rescue team for Turkey

On Wednesday, the Bangladesh government announced that Bangladesh will observe a day of mourning for the heavy losses in the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria.

Dhaka will also send a rescue team to join relief operations in Turkey’s quake-hit southeast.

The decision was announced at a press conference by the Bangladesh Fire Department, Director General of Civil Defense Brig. General Muhammaduddin said a 60-member team, including 12 members from the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, will leave Dhaka on Wednesday night for Turkey to take part in the rescue operations.

On the other hand, a government notification declaring Thursday a day of mourning, said that the country’s national flag will be flown over half of the employees in all government, semi-government and independent institutions across the country.

The notification stated that the national flag will also be hoisted on half of the staff in all diplomatic missions and embassies around the world, adding that special prayers will also be held for the earthquake victims.

At least 8,574 people have been killed and 49,133 injured after two powerful earthquakes hit southern Turkey on Monday, the country’s disaster management agency said on Wednesday.

Besides, at least 2,530 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Syria in the series of powerful earthquakes centered in southern Turkey that have rocked the wider region, according to figures collected on Wednesday.