BD leaders shocked at tsunami casualties, damages in Japan

Bangladesh leaders Friday expressed their shocks as a devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan killing scores of people and triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific from US's California coast to Indonesia, report agencies. President M Zillur Rahman expressed deep shock at loss of lives and assets due to high-intensity earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. In a condolence message, the President conveyed his sympathy to members of the bereaved families and also wished early recovery of the injured people. The President also prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the people killed in the disaster. He said the people of Bangladesh would always remain with the friendly people of Japan. He expressed the hope that Japan would be able to overcome the disaster with the combined efforts of the government and the people. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a message to her Japanese counterpart Naota Kan said: "I write to express my deep shock at the news of heavy loss of lives and colossal damage to properties in the northern coast of Japan hit by a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami." The Prime Minister conveyed her sympathy to the family members of the dead and those who were missing in the calamity but expressed the hope that Japan would be able to overcome the disaster with the combined efforts of the government and the people. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the dead people, and early recovery of the injured and wished the affected Japanese to bear with the huge shock and sorrow. In another message, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia mourned the casualties and expressed her solidarity with the Japanese people. The BNP chairperson said, "I pray for the affected people of Japan so that they can face the calamity with fortitude." Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in a message to her counterpart in Tokyo Tekeaki Matsumoto expressed her deepest condolences for the victims of the calamity.