DHAKA, Aug 27, 2020 (BSS) – Indian high commissioner Riva Ganguly
today placed a proposal to civil aviation ministry here for initiating
air bubble between Bangladesh and India to restore air connectivity
between the two neighboring countries amid covid-19 pandemic.
The outgoing Indian envoy made the proposal as he met state minister
for civil aviation and tourism M Mahbub Ali at secretariat here, a
press release said.
During the meeting, Ali welcomed the initiative of restoring flight
operation between the two countries through air bubble.
The state minister also suggested for holding meeting among the
civil aviation authorities of both the countries to set modalities and
regulations of air bubble so that the people of Bangladesh and India
can get the highest benefit out of the air connectivity.
Under the air bubble mechanism, air connectivity will be restored
only between Bangladesh and India where no third country will be
involved that means the airlines will not take any transit passengers.
India has already introduced such air bubble with France, Germany
the UAE and the Maldives, an Indian diplomat stationed in Bangladesh
said.
During the recent visit of Indian external affairs secretary Harsh
Vardhan Shringla to Dhaka, India placed the idea of air travel bubble
to Bangladesh.
On August 19, at the foreign secretary level bilateral meeting
between Bangladesh and India, both the sides agreed to introduce the
mechanism during this pandemic situation for allowing treatment
aspirants and businessmen to travel between the two neighbouring
countries.
During today’s meeting, the state minister also observed that
Bangladesh and India can help each other to recover the losses of the
tourist sectors due to the pandemic.
Mentioning that India is providing support of improving
Rabindranath Tagore’s Kuthibai in Shilaidah of Kushtia, Gangualy hoped
that Bangladesh will get lots of Indian tourists after completion of
the renovation.