DHAKA, Feb 8, 2023 (BSS) - A 12-member team of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence will leave for Turkey tonight to join the search and rescue efforts there in the aftermath of devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, claiming so far 11,200 lives.

The expert team, including one deputy director, two assistant directors, one deputy assistant director, one senior station officer, one leader and six firefighters, will leave Dhaka by an Air Force aircraft C-130 at 10pm today, said a press release here.

The Fire Service has drawn up the rescue team for sending it along with the rescue team of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) to earthquake-hit Turkey at the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the release added. 

The premier issued the directives to the Bangladesh Armed Forces for sending a combined aid team to Turkey as Turkish government sought international cooperation for rescue operations, following two devastating earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude.

The team, ready to fly for Turkey, received training on search and rescue operations in ruined buildings as per the standard of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), the release said.

FSCD Director General Brigadier General Md Main Uddin said, "We feel honored for adding the Fire Service with the combined rescue team drawn up at the directives of honorable Prime Minister. This is the first ever that a 12-member team of the Fire Service is going to join overseas rescue operations in the international arena". 

Earlier, a five-member delegation of the Fire Service went to Nepal after 2015 earthquake as observer.