A special flight arranged by US-Bangla Airlines has brought 160 Bangladeshi nationals, stranded in the United Arab Emirates amidst travel ban imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, back to the country.
The flight departed Dubai at 4:00am local time and arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:58am.
US-Bangla General Manager (public relations) Kamrul Islam confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
It was the first US-Bangla flight, arranged to return Bangladeshi citizens from the UAE, amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline arranged the special flight under the auspices of Bangladesh Air Force Welfare Trust using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Every passenger on the flight were required to provide certificates proving that they were Covid-19 negative. It was also mandatory to carry two pairs of disposable gloves and a mask as per hygiene guidelines set by airport authorities.
These passengers were part of a large number of expatriate Bangladeshis who have been stranded in various cities in the UAE for more than three months due to lockdowns and travel restrictions put in place to combat the coronavirus epidemic.