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BSS-36
GOVT-FERRY-WUHAN
Govt spends Tk 2.3 crore to ferry 312 Bangladeshis from Wuhan
DHAKA, Feb 3, 2020 (BSS) – The government spent Taka 2.3 crore to ferry 312
stranded Bangladeshi from Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of deadly
coronavirus, to Dhaka on Saturday.
“Biman Bangladesh Airlines spent Taka 2.3 crore as it had operated a
special dedicated flight through its Boeing 777-300 ER to bring back the
Bangladeshis from Wuhan,” a press release issued by Civil Aviation and
Tourism Ministry said here today.
The flight named “Rescue Ferry BG-7002” with 15 crew members and four
physicians took off Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for Chinese
city of Wuhan on Friday evening and returned back at HSIA on Saturday noon
carrying 312 Bangladeshis – 297 adults, 12 children and 3 infants.
Just after arrival here, the authorities shifted eight returnees to
hospitals for observation and rest to Ashkona Hajj Camp directly from the
airport, where they will be kept as quarantine for the next 14 days.
Since the outbreak of the virus, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had directed
the foreign ministry to initiate steps to bring back those Bangladeshis
specially the students residing in China who are ‘willing to return’.
The government had brought back those Bangladeshis who were stranded in
only Wuhan city as well as registered their names with Bangladesh embassy in
Beijing, showing their willingness to return home.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam today said the
government will also bring back 171 more ‘willing to return’ Bangladeshis
upon clearance from the Chinese authorities.
The government has proved all necessities of the returned Bangladeshis who
are now quarantine in Hajji camp while physicians are constantly monitoring
them, said the release.
The World Health Organization had declared a global emergency over the new
coronavirus as China’s death toll from the virus epidemic soared past 360 on
Monday.
BSS/TA/RY/1910 hrs