Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses ceremony to honour and bid farewell to Bangladesh Search and Rescue and Emergency Healthcare Team
Nay Pyi Taw April 10
Following the severe earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that struck Myanmar on March 28, causing significant destruction and loss, the Bangladesh Search and Rescue and Emergency Healthcare Team arrived in Myanmar to carry out urgent relief operations. Having completed their rescue efforts, the team is set to return to Bangladesh. A ceremony to honor and bid farewell to the team was held this morning at the Tabaung Grounds in Nay Pyi Taw. The event was attended by Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, who delivered a speech expressing gratitude and appreciation.
The ceremony was attended by Union Ministers who are members of the committee, the Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, Deputy Ministers, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Myanmar H.E. Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain, the Military Attaché and other officials, heads of relevant departments, and members of the Bangladesh Search and Rescue and Emergency Healthcare Team along with their officials.
Initially, Vice-Senior General Soe Win, along with the attendees, observed a minute of silence and bowed their heads as a mark of respect and shared sorrow for the lives lost and damages caused by the severe earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025.
In his speech expressing gratitude and appreciation, the Vice-Senior General stated that the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, resulted in numerous casualties and widespread destruction. He noted that, as a consequence of this earthquake, 112 aftershocks had occurred up to the present time.
He further elaborated that the earthquake caused damage across the country, including the destruction of over 60,000 residential houses, 3,514 monasteries and nunneries, 2,366 schools, and 3,678 government offices and buildings. Additionally, 155 bridges and 5,620 pagodas were damaged or destroyed. As of this morning, the death toll stood at 3,649, with 5,018 people injured and 145 reported missing. Between March 28 and April 9, 2025, search and rescue teams from Myanmar and international emergency response units successfully rescued 653 people alive and recovered the bodies of 718 deceased individuals.
He highlighted that emergency search and rescue operations in the affected areas were conducted by Myanmar’s rescue teams, supplemented by international support, including relief supplies, rescue equipment, and medical teams. The Myanmar Government and the National Disaster Management Committee have been actively visiting affected communities, providing encouragement, and delivering necessary assistance and relief efforts with full commitment. He also acknowledged Bangladesh’s contribution, noting that a 55-member team, led by Colonel Shamim Iftakhar and Colonel Nasir, including search and rescue units, relief teams, medical teams, and structural engineers, arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on April 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM with 69 types of advanced rescue equipment to assist in the relief operations.
Additionally, the medical team led by Colonel Nasir from Bangladesh, which arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on April 1, 2025, worked at the Nay Pyi Taw Children’s Specialty Hospital until April 3. Starting from April 4, they established a base at the Zabuthiri Township Hospital, operated mobile clinics in Pyinmana Township, and collaborated with Myanmar’s emergency medical teams at the People’s Hospital, Lewe Township, and the 1,000-bed Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital. Their efforts included performing four major surgeries and providing healthcare to a total of 527 patients.
Similarly, On April 3, 2025, a Bangladeshi search and rescue team led by Colonel Shamim Iftakhar, in coordination with the Myanmar Fire Services Department, successfully located a missing individual who had been trapped under the rubbleof a collapsed building in Nay Pyi Taw. The incident occurred at Building No. 1338, Dhanatheiddhi Ward, Zabuthiri Township, following a recent earthquake. A deceased individual was found at the scene. On behalf of the family, he expressed gratitude to the rescuers who, with considerable effort, recovered the body by cutting through walls and concrete floor slabs.
The Vice-Senior General also expressed special appreciation to the Bangladeshi engineering team for inspecting and demolishing hazardous sections of the earthquake-damaged Central Fire Station in Zabuthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, on the morning of April 4, as well as for providing essential guidance.
It is also noted that the Bangladeshi search and rescue team is highly experienced, having previously participated in earthquake response efforts in Nepal and Turkiye(Turkey). Their ex-pertise has not only contributed to the successful search and recovery of individuals—both living and deceased—from collapsed buildings, but has also proven invaluable in assessing the structural integrity of damaged buildings at risk of further collapse. In addition, he expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to the search and rescue team members for their support to Myanmar, particularly highlighting their extensive experience in providing medical treatment to the injured.
On behalf of the State Administration Council, the State Government, the National Disaster Management Committee, and the people and families affected by the earthquake, he stated he would like to express his heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Bangladesh and its officials, who, as good neighbors and friends, without any strings attached, with a sense of humanity and full compassion, provided timely and consistent search and rescue services to those affected by the earthquake in our country. He also expressed thanks to the Bangladesh government and officials who were sent to provide medical treatment through the Mobile Clinic, the rescue team led by Colonel Shamim Iftakhar and Colonel Nasir, the medical staff who came to assist, H.E. Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Myanmar, and all the members of the Embassy. He stated that the assistance provided by all those involved will always be remembered by our people.
The Vice-Senior General then presented certificates of appreciation and souvenirs to the Bangladesh Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services Team, which were received by a representative from each team.
After the ceremony, the Vice-Senior General warmly greeted the Bangladesh Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services team and hosted a meal in their honor.
It is reported that these emergency relief teams will leave on April 13, with a Bangladeshi ship arriving in Yangon on April 11 to deliver relief supplies to Myanmar and the earthquake affected people.