An Appeal to Extend Assistance for Cyclone Victims of Bangladesh

All of you are aware of the severe damages and the painful aftermath caused by the series of powerful storms and massive floods brought by the most devastating cyclone Sidr in the Southern districts of Bangladesh. While the Government and the resilient people of Bangladesh are doing everything possible in rehabilitating the victims of the cyclone, assistance and support from the expatriate Bangladesh Community and well wishers are also welcome in mitigating the effects of the appalling disaster. The Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York is coordinating with different community based organizations and high spirited individuals who are motivating and mustering such financial assistances for the cyclone victims from different sources. While we have already received assistance in cash from some organizations and individuals, we also received commitment of assistance from many whose proceedings are on the way.
The Consulate-General has opened a separate account with a local bank exclusively for collection of donation to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund. Interested individuals or organizations may send their checks /money order / bank draft (payable to Bangladesh Consulate General in New York) by post at the following address:

Consulate General of Bangladesh, 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 502, New York, NY 10017, USA

or may directly hand it over to the Consul-General of Bangladesh or in his absence to his Deputy. (Please mention Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund' in the space for 'Memo' in the check).The amount deposited in the above mentioned account will be transferred to the relief and welfare fund of the Hon'ble Chief Adviser of Bangladesh right away.
Contributions for the cyclone victims may also be sent directly to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund in the following address:

Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund

Current Account No. 33004093

SWIFT Code: BSONBDDH

Sonali Bank, Chief Adviser's Office Branch

Tejgaon, Dhaka

Donations may also be sent directly to the above relief fund through money transfer agencies. If the donations are sent through the Sonali Exchange Co., USA, no additional fees for transfer will be required. In that case, the amount should be directly paid in cash or through checks (payable to Sonali Exchange Co. Inc. USA). (Please mention 'For Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund' in the space for 'Memo') The Sonali Exchange will send the money to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund within the next business day and will issue a confirmation receipt in favor of the donor.
As for sending relief materials, the Government of Bangladesh would prefer receiving dry food, water purification tablets, water purification units for the rehabilitation works and life saving medicines etc. However, the cost of shipment will have to be borne by the sender (s) of such relief materials. Receiving of clothes are however discouraged due to high cost of transportation.
My Deputy and I will be available for any clarification or question at 1-212-599-6767 ext15/10/21/14 or 212-687-5368. Information on the procedures is also available at Bangladesh Consulate-General’s website at www.bdcgny.org.
We deeply appreciate our expatriate community and all other well-wishers for their gestures and for standing by the affected people of Bangladesh at this critical moment.
                                                                                                    
                                                                                         (Consul-General)