The Bangladesh military sent a second consignment of relief aid to Burma on Thursday and promised to continue the nation's efforts to stand by the cyclone-battered people in the neighboring country.

A Bangladesh Air Force aircraft carried ten tons of materials including medicine, dry food, tents, and plastic sheets from Kurmitola Air Movement base.

Brigadier General Anawarul Islam led a five-member team to Burma, as the hermit regime gave clearance Thursday to major international aid for the millions of needy people hit hardest by tropical cyclone Nargis.

Bangladesh on Wednesday sent its first consignment of relief to Burma. A military spokesman said the 20-member team that went to Burma Wednesday returned to Dhaka later in the day.

Anwarul said Thursday that Bangladesh wants to continue its efforts to help the affected people, and if necessary, the military will take part in rescue operations.

"If the Burmese government wants so, we are ready to help the country with our expertise," he told reporters before leaving for Burma.

When asked if the relief help would continue, Brig. Gen. Anwarul answered, "So far as I know, yes."

Nargis hit Burma on 3 May, bypassing Bangladesh. Initial response to the disaster was lukewarm while international aid agencies and donors struggled to send relief to the country because of restrictive policies by the Burmese junta.

Burma is still refusing to accept aid from the United States while Thailand offered to negotiate on Washington's behalf on Thursday to persuade the Burmese government to accept U.S. help.

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