1st batch of stranded Bangladeshis returns from India

The government today brought back the first batch of Bangladeshis, who were stranded in India due to flight suspension amid outbreak of COVID-19.

A total of 164 Bangladeshi nationals arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) from Chennai by a chartered flight of US-Bangla airlines, facilitated by the government in coordination with Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

"Our special flight operated by Boeing 737-800 ER aircraft arrived at HSIA at 3:48 pm from Chennai carrying 164 Bangladeshi passengers," General Manager of the airline Kamrul Islam told BSS.

He said the stranded passengers bear the cost of their own tickets for the flight while the airline has taken preparation to operate several others chartered flights from India upon the government's instruction.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi today in a statement said that more similar special flights will be operated from Chennai in next few days to bring back Bangladesh nationals, who got stuck in India due to flight suspension.

A good number of Bangladesh nationals have already returned home from Kolkata, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other border areas with the support of Bangladesh missions there, it said.

The Bangladeshi mission said approval has also been granted for repatriation of sick and senior Bangladeshi citizens by air from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Bangladeshi high commission is working relentlessly to bring back all the stranded Bangladeshis from all states of India, said the statement.

On April 3, the foreign ministry issued a statement, saying that nearly 2,500 Bangladeshi citizens, including 1,000 students are currently stranded in India due to COVID-19 outbreak.

The government is firmly committed to bring them back quickly, who got stuck in India and other countries, once the situation becomes convenient, said that statement.