China has sent a professional emergency medical rescue team to Bangladesh to carry out humanitarian work with full efforts in response to the chaotic situation in the latter that has lasted for several months, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday.
The Chinese government sent the emergency medical team to treat the people injured in the recent riots at the invitation of Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the team arrived in the country on Sunday.
"At the invitation of the interim government of Bangladesh, China has sent an emergency medical rescue team to Bangladesh. During its work in Bangladesh, the medical rescue team will give full play to its professional advantages and carry out humanitarian medical rescue work with all its strengths. China and Bangladesh are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. China has always pursued a policy of good-neighborliness and friendship for all Bangladeshi people and is committed to working with Bangladesh to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and continuously deepen the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," said Lin.
The mass protests in Bangladesh began in July with student demonstrations demanding reforms to the civil service quota system. Students argued that the existing quotas unfairly benefited loyalists of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League party.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was named chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government on Aug. 6, a day after Hasina resigned and fled the country following weeks of massive unrest.
More than 300 civilians have been killed and more than 20,000 others injured in student-led protests, making it one of the worst bloodsheds ever in Bangladesh, according to a U.N. report published on Aug.6.
China sends medical rescue team to Bangladesh against nationwide unrest: spokesman
