Noting that every country is facing challenges of its own in varied degrees, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said mutual collaboration is much more essential than ever before in this trying time. The dual impacts of Covid-19 pandemic, its resultant supply-chain disruption and the war between Russia and Ukraine have distorted the global economy, he said. The foreign minister made the remarks while handing over medical assistance to Sri Lanka at a function held at State guesthouse Padma.  Also read: A political reckoning in Sri Lanka as debt crisis grows "We also stand ready to extend further support to Sri Lanka in all possible ways we can," he said. Bangladesh decided to send a significant quantity of medical supplies worth Tk 20 crores to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture.  Foreign Minister Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque handed over few boxes of medicine as a token to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Prof. Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne. Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen and President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries (BAPI) Nazmul Hassan, MP, among others, were present.  As a friend and close neighbour, Momen said, it is also Bangladesh's privilege to stand by Sri Lanka in whatever way it can, during times of crisis.  "This is yet another demonstration that the trajectory of our bilateral relations is in the right direction," he said. The foreign minister said this medical assistance by the government of Bangladesh to the friendly people of Sri Lanka is the expression of solidarity and friendship between the two nations when they are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.  Over the last 50 years, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as South Asian neighbours have been maintaining close cooperation.  "Our two countries enjoy common historical legacy, shared culture and values, similar developmental aspirations, and face identical challenges," Momen said.  He said Bangladesh appreciates the value of good relations with Sri Lanka and understands the importance of making it even more fruitful and tangible.  "Our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh  Mujibur  Rahman was an epitome of humanity and love for the people. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, able daughter of Bangabandhu is carrying his legacy which often transcends geographical boundaries," Momen said.

The injured workers undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in connection with the massive factory fire in Rupganj were given medical assistance of Tk 50,000 from the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund under the Ministry of Labor and Employment on Saturday. Today, the secretary of the ministry KM Abdus Salam handed over a check of Tk 50,000 for medical aid to each of the three workers undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A total of Tk 11 lakh has been handed over to 22 injured workers including those undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and a private hospital in Rupganj. Besides, Tk 2 lac will be provided to the deceased upon confirming their identities, KM Abdus Salam  told reporters. Earlier on Friday, State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian pledged that Legal action will be taken against the owners of the Rupganj factory where over 50 workers died in a fire, if there is evidence of their negligence. Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames It is when she said that  the family of the deceased would be provided with Tk 2 lac and the injured Tk 50,000 tomorrow from the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund under the labor ministry. Earlier on Saturday, police arrested Md Abul Hashem, chairman of the group Sajeeb Group that owns the factory, his four sons -- Hashem Bin Hashem, Tareq Ibrahim, Tawsib Ibrahim and Tanjim Ibrahim-- and its CEO Shahan Sha Azad, DGM Mamunur Rashid and head of admin Salauddin. The eight will be produced before court later in the day, said Superintendent of Police (Narayanganj) Md Zaidul Alam. So far 52 workers, some of them reportedly teen-aged boys and girls, were killed in the devastating fire that tore through the seven-story factory that produced foods and beverages such as juice, cold drinks, toast biscuits and laccha semai. According to the fire service, huge amount of plastic and packaging materials in the building may have fuelled the fire in just a few minutes after it broke out. They said the blocked door at the factory’s staircase has caused so many deaths that could have been avoided. Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, 4 sons, CEO among 8 arrested It took around 27 hours for 18 fire fighting units to douse the blaze completely as at some floors huge amounts of inflammable substances were stockpiled. On Friday noon, after breaking the locked door of the fourth floor, fire fighters discovered rows of bodies burnt to ashes.   Fire fighters recovered 49 bodies from the floor and sent them to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital’s morgue, which took the death toll to 52 from the tragic incident. None of the 49 bodies could be identified yet as they have completely been charred. Three others died from injuries after jumping off the building on Thursday.