259 Bangladeshi expats return to Italy on special Biman flight

After remaining stranded in Bangladesh for over three months following suspension of regular flight operations due to Covid-19 pandemic, 259 Bangladeshi nationals who reside in Italy, today returned to Rome on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

"Carrying the passengers, the special chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:05pm," said Tahera Khandaker, deputy general manager (public relations) of Biman.

Earlier on June 12, Biman ferried 287 Bangladeshi nationals to Rome who were stranded in the country following outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

Biman had earlier repatriated stranded Bangladeshis from different other countries including Japan, India, UAE, UK, Qatar, Maldives and Malaysia.

The government from mid-March suspended regular passenger flight operations to and from Dhaka on all international routes except for China.

From June 16, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh resumed operation of regular passenger flights on international routes on a limited scale.

Only two airlines -- Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Qatar Airways -- were given permission to operate flights only on Dhaka-London and Dhaka-Doha routes respectively.