By Md. Kamruzzaman
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Turkey’s state-run aid agency delivered 25,000 surgical masks to Bangladesh police on Wednesday, according to officials.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam received the equipment from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on behalf of the police department.
Turkish envoy to Bangladesh, Mustafa Osman Turan, handed over the masks at a ceremony that was attended by TIKA Bangladesh Coordinator Ismail Gundogdu.
"Bangladesh police are working hard in this pandemic situation. TIKA has provided those masks as a support to the police department of Bangladesh," Gundogdu told Anadolu Agency.
He said Bangladesh is a brotherly country, and added: "We will continue our supports to our friend Bangladesh in any crisis or needs as per our best capability."
TIKA was founded in 1992 and currently has offices in 60 countries.
"TIKA opened an office in Bangladesh in 2014 and has carried out hundreds of projects since then," Gundogdu added.
The agency distributed 5,000 packages of dry food items to Rohingya in Bangladesh’s refugee camps in September.
During the Muslim holy month of fasting in Ramadan, Turkey distributed food items among Bangladeshi poor and persecuted Rohingya Muslims living in the southern district of Cox's Bazar.
Meanwhile, in a courtesy meeting Wednesday between the Turkish ambassador and DMP Commissioner, views on bilateral cooperation regarding maintenance of law and order, training for law enforcement agencies and curbing terrorism were exchanged, according to a DMP statement.
Issues of other mutual interest were also discussed, it added.