International flights to remain suspended from 14 April

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to suspend all international flights for a week from 14 April as the government is going to impose a strict lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The suspension of domestic flights will continue, said Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of the CAAB.

However, no restriction will be imposed on the movement of chartered flights, cargo flights and special flights carrying high commissioners of different countries and foreign nationals, he said.

Flight operations on international routes from Bangladesh resumed on 16 June last year after over two months of suspension due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Bangladesh is going to suspend international flights operation for the second time amid the second wave of Covid-19 infections.

The flight operations on domestic routes remained suspended since the enforcement of the seven-day lockdown in the country from 5 April.

Besides, on 1 April, the civil aviation regulator suspended the entry of passengers from all European countries, except the UK, and 12 other countries to Bangladesh from 3 April.

As the spread of novel coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to enforce a fresh nationwide lockdown from 14 April in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

Bangladesh, a densely populated country, is facing the wraths of the Covid-19 pandemic as people continued to defy health protocols despite warnings both from the government and experts.

Bangladesh reported 78 more deaths from the novel coronavirus on Sunday, which is the highest daily death toll in the country so far. Meanwhile the country recorded 5,819 fresh Covid-19 cases on the same day, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).