Port Louis, 17 September, 2020:

On 25 July 2020, the Japanese Nagasaki Shipping Company’s bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground due to the bad weather and constant pounding over the reef of Point d’Esny, off the coast of Mauritius. The vessel was carrying nearly 3894 metric tons (MT) of low-sulphur fuel oil, diesel (207 MT) and lubricant oil (90 MT) from China to Brazil. 3000 metric tons was pumped from the ship whereas remaining oil fuel had been spilled over the sea. The oil pollution incident from the grounded bulk carrier “MV Wakashio” is a threatening to the ecological catastrophe around the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, endangering corals, fish and other marine life already under threat from climate change.  It was hunched that if the oil spill cannot be removed fully, it will bring risk to devastating consequences for the blue economy. The Government of Mauritius declared “the State of Environmental Emergency” and solicited cooperation from friendly countries. As such, many countries have extended assistance to the Government of Mauritius to overcome the crisis. In coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka during this difficult time, the Government of Bangladesh stood by the Government of Mauritius. For the first time, Bangladesh Government has sent assistance to the Government of Mauritius.

On 16 September, 2020, 1000 piece PPEs, 1000 piece head caps, 1000 piece shoe covers, 1000 piece surgical face masks and food products (Biscuits and Cakes) altogether 39 Pieces, i.e. 850 kg have reached Mauritius by Emirates Airlines.

On 17 September at 11:30 am H.E. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Mauritius , Ms. Rezina Ahmed handed over the assistance materials from Bangladesh Government to Mr. Kavydass Ramano,  the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. During the ceremony representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, high officials from the Ministry of Environment of Mauritius and officers of the Mission were present.