Pranab Mukherjee arrives tomorrow

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Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Dhaka tomorrow (Saturday) to convey solidarity of the people of India with the people of Bangladesh in their hour of need.
During his visit, the Indian minister will meet Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, a news release from the Indian HC stated in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
Pranab would also undertake a trip to a number of cyclone-hit areas and meet cross-sections of people to apprise himself of the ongoing relief efforts.
"In keeping with India's close ties and empathy with the friendly people of Bangladesh, New Delhi has been expeditiously delivering relief materials to Bangladesh, consisting of medicines, tents, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and portable water-purifiers by Indian Air Force transport aircraft IL-76," the release added.
The last consignment reaches the city tomorrow. The Indian minister is expected to symbolically hand over the consignment to authorities concerned.
India is also sending essential food items to Bangladesh as food aid, including rice, wheat and milk powder, of a total value of nearly Tk 1.0 billion. Delivery of these items is being expedited.
One such consignment consisting of more than 9000 tonnes of rice had reached Chittagong during the Ramadan after the floods, the release pointed out.
Earlier, following torrential rains that caused mudslides in Chittagong in June, India had also extended US$10 million cash assistance to Bangladesh.
In a special dispensation, India has also waived the current ban on export of rice to Bangladesh allowing it to import 50,000 tonnes of rice, the release stated.