Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen has expressed Bangladesh’s support and condolences for Turkish people as the country experienced one of the deadliest tremors in decades.

“Maybe, if you need some help, we can send the construction workers, and whatever you need, let us know and we will try our best,” Momen said.

The foreign minister said this during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday, a Foreign Ministry press release said here today.

The Turkish foreign minister said, “We have a brotherly country like Bangladesh… if we need anything else we would reach you without any hesitation.”

The massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey on February 6 close to the border with Syria which has claimed more than 35000 lives so far.

Terming this incident as a great shock to all Bangladeshi people, Momen said, “We are really devastated at the scale of devastation and deaths. We express our wholehearted condolences and also you would take us as your brother to assist you as much as we can.”

Cavusoglu thanked Momen for calling and also thanked the government of Bangladesh and the people of brotherly Bangladesh for sincere messages of condolences and solidarity from the President, the Prime Minister, the Parliament Speaker and the Foreign Minister.

Thanking the Bangladesh government for sending a search, rescue and medical team of 60 people and tents, Cavusoglu said these are actually what they need at this moment urgently.

Momen mentioned that Bangladesh is sending another 10 thousand tents in addition to two thousand tents sent earlier.

Foreign Minister Dr. Momen wanted to know about the current situation and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that it is the worst what you have seen on Television.

“Some provinces were affected by the earthquakes, two strong earthquakes actually of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude, thousands of aftershocks and some of them more than 6.5 magnitude,” he added.

Mentioning that there are people under the rubble which could not be reached yet by any rescue team, Cavusoglu said, “We are doing our best to normalize life, to provide temporary shelter and also we are planning the reconstruction of the region affected by the earthquake.”

Mevlut Cavusoglu also expressed sorrow about Bangladeshi citizens who were wounded and wished them quick recovery, the release added.