DHAKA, April 27, 2020 (BSS) – The government, in coordination with
Bangladesh mission in New Delhi, has arranged six more chartered flights from
Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to bring back Bangladeshi citizens who
have been stranded in India due to flight suspension amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate chartered flight to Dhaka from
Kolkata on May 1, from New Delhi on May 2 and from Mumbai on May 3 while the
US-Bangla Airlines will operate three more special flights from Chennai on
April 30, May 1 and 2, according to a circular of Bangladesh High Commission
in New Delhi, received here today.
Each of the three special flights of Biman Bangladesh airlines will depart
India’s three different mega cities at 2:30 pm local time, it said.
The intending Bangladeshi nationals can purchase tickets by depositing
airfare to particular Biman’s bank account as per the information given at
website of the national flag carrier, it added.
The New Delhi mission advised Bangladeshi nationals stuck in Chennai and
its nearby areas, including Bengaluru, to contact with US-Bangla Airlines
local office for availing the scheduled three special flights from Chennai to
Dhaka.
The circular said every passenger must show “COVID-19 free” or ‘COVID-19 symptom free” medical certificate at the airport before boarding the flight.
After arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka all passengers will undergo a medical screening and must go for 14-day
quarantine, it added.
Meanwhile in Dhaka, Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Md Mokabbir Hossain
also announced schedules of the three chartered flights while the government
today extended ongoing ban on commercial international and domestic flight
operation for the fourth consecutive time till May 7 over the coronavirus
fear.
From April 20 till today, nearly 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals were brought
back from India by six chartered flights – five from Chennai, operated by US-
Bangla Airlines and one from New Delhi, operated by Biman – while the
passengers bore the cost of their own tickets for the flights.
Bangladesh High Commission in India has kept their efforts on to
facilitate the return of more Bangladeshis who are still stuck up in India.
A good number of Bangladesh nationals have already returned home from
Kolkata, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other border areas with the support of
Bangladesh missions there, said a statement of Bangladesh mission in New
Delhi earlier.
On April 3, the foreign ministry issued a statement, saying that nearly
2,500 Bangladeshi citizens, including 1,000 students, were stranded in India
due to COVID-19 outbreak.