177 British nationals return from Bangladesh on special flight

A total of 177 more British nationals, who were stranded in Bangladesh due to the suspension of flights following coronavirus outbreak, left Dhaka this evening on a special British Airways flight.

Carrying the UK citizens, the chartered flight took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 4:30pm for London, an official of Aviation Security (AVSEC), HSIA, told The Daily Star.

On April 21, the first batch of 264 stranded British nationals left Bangladesh on a chartered flight of the same airline, arranged by the UK government in coordination with the British High Commission in Dhaka.

This was the first ever aircraft of any British Airways that landed in Dhaka in the last 11 years.

British Airways suspended its operation on London-Dhaka route 11 years back.

The British government will arrange two more special flights on April 25 and 26 from Dhaka to bring back its stranded citizens, mostly expatriate Bangladeshis residing in the UK with accompanying transfers from Sylhet.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Chatterton Dickson was present at HSIA to observe the return process and speak with departing British citizens.

The flights are intended for British nationals who are on holiday or are short-term visitors to Bangladesh.

Earlier, citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Bhutan, Germany and some other European countries also left Dhaka by their personal choice through chartered flights amid outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

Bangladesh government suspended air communication with all countries to and from Bangladesh, except for China since March 16 to April 30 to contain the deadly contagious coronavirus.