Diplomatic Correspondent :
Foreign nationals living in Bangladesh will be allowed to leave the country by chartered flight, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Sunday.
“We have suspended almost all commercial flights to and from Bangladesh to stop the spread of coronavirus. Under the prevailing situation, foreigners who are still in Bangladesh can leave the country by chartered flights. Permission will be granted for such flights,” the minister said. Meanwhile, a chartered flight carrying US citizens residing in Bangladesh, including diplomats will leave for Washington DC by Qatar Airways on Monday. The officials would not disclose how many such flights have been arranged or how many people are flying on Monday.
“The flight (on Monday) will be full,” said an official.
The US embassy will remain open, but visa processing shall remain suspended with the exception of emergency cases, the officials said.
British nationals are also trying to return home as per the travel advice by their government.
On March 27, the government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the suspension of flights between the UK and Bangladesh. However, they also announced that the flights may resume from April 7.
“If you are booked for those flights or if you are a British citizen considering your options, I urge you now to do two things,” British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said in a video message on Saturday.
Regarding the repatriation of British citizens from Bangladesh, the foreign minister said: “I advised them either to charter flights or to fly to Bangladesh by British Airways.”
About the confidence among foreigners in the country’s healthcare system, the minister said: “It is psychological, but I can understand. They fear that they will not get the treatment here”.
