Ahead of the visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Bangladesh, India on Thursday announced aid worth Rs 100 crore for the cyclone-hit country and lifted ban on rice export to allow supply of 50,000 metric tonnes of the foodgrain.
Mukherjee is undertaking day-long visit to Bangladesh on Saturday to express solidarity with the people of the neighbouring country where heavy loss of life and widespread destruction was caused due to cyclone more than a week ago.
India has already announced assistance worth about Rs four crore for Bangladesh.
India is sending essential food items, including rice, wheat and milk powder to Bangladesh of a total value of nearly Rs 100 crore, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.
Delivery of these items is being expedited, he said.
During his visit, Mukherjee will symbolically hand over a consignment of relief to Bangladesh authorities.
"In a special dispensation, India has also waived the current ban on rice exports, being supplied by Indian Air Force transport aircraft IL-76," he said.
In Dhaka, Mukherjee will meet Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury. He will also survey some cyclone-affected areas.
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