International commercial flight operation resumes

Bangladesh today resumed international flight operations following government guidelines and instructions after a 17-day suspension to check spread of Coronavirus, reports BSS.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) announced it issuing a circular keeping the entry bar of passengers for severally COVID-19 hit 12 countries – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Oman, South Africa and Tunisia.

However, the circular said, only Bangladeshi expatriates/citizens who visited (not residing) those 12 countries in last 15 days, are allowed to travel to Dhaka but they must have special approval from the Bangladesh missions of respective departing countries.

Besides, passengers coming from 26 countries – Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Kuwait, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Uruguay- will have to stay in 14-day institutional quarantine at the government-designated hotels at their own expenses.

Proof of hotel booking must be produced during check-in and the airlines representative will verify it before issuing the boarding pass, the circular said.

It said passengers can travel via India, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Mongolia, Oman, South Africa and Tunisia but they will remain confined within the airport under the close supervision of the airlines.

As an exception, Bangladesh-bound passengers coming from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar will have to stay in a complete mandatory three-day institutional quarantine at government nominated hotels at their own expense, CAAB said.

Upon completion of the institutional quarantine, their medical test will be carried out. The passengers only will be released to complete 11 days’ home quarantine if the medical test result is satisfactory.

CAAB in its circular also said passengers from countries, except for the above-mentioned 38 countries, are allowed to travel into Bangladesh but the incoming passengers will have to stay in strict home quarantine for 14 days.

The government suspended regular flight operation on all international routes from April 14 to check spread of Covid-19 infection.