A total of 241 Bangladeshis, who got stuck in India due to lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak, returned home from Kolkata and Chennai.
A special flight of the national flag carrier carrying 73 citizens arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Kolkata at 4:10pm.
Managing Director and CEO Md Mokabbir Hossain of Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
Another special flight brought 168 Bangladeshis home from Chennai.
A US-Bangla Airlines flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Chennai at 2:55pm on Friday.
Airport's director AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
After the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, the private airlines facilitated the return of 1,052 Bangladesh nationals from India by operating special flights in line with the Bangladesh High Commission’s initiative.
According to reports, at least 2,500 Bangladeshis, including students, tourists, and medical tourists were stranded in different Indian cities, especially in Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
On April 27, Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced to operate special flights to fly back Bangladeshis stranded in India due to the travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The national flag carrier will operate more flights on May 1, 2, and 3, said Biman CEO.
According to the schedule, the first batch arrived home from Kolkata while the next flight will come from Delhi on Saturday and from Mumbai on Sunday, he added.
As many as 1289 stranded Bangladeshis have returned from India, so far, said the top Biman official.
