Alongside facilitating the repatriation of Bangladeshis stranded in India due to coronavirus by special flights, the government is trying to bring back people home by road as well.
Bangladesh high commission in Delhi is now in discussion with the Indian government to obtain permission for Bangladeshis to be transported to the borders by buses.
Subject to some conditions, including maintenance of social distancing and doctor’s permission in case of a patient, the permission may be granted to use buses, the high commission in Delhi said on Thursday.
The mission also said that there is a possibility that the nationwide lockdown in India will be extended beyond May 3 and the restriction on using small vehicles might remain in place.
A senior foreign ministry official told Dhaka Tribune that many Bangladeshis stranded in India are unable to bear the cost of fare for special flights hence they have requested for arranging transportation by road.
The airfare of the special flights are much higher than the scheduled flights, he said.
Once the details regarding the passengers, vehicles, drivers, origin and descriptions of journeys, stopovers and probable time of reaching the destinations from established and registered transport services are received, then a proposal for permission will be sent to the concerned Indian authorities, said the high commission.
All the passengers must possess certificates stating that they are free from Covid-19 and after having arrived in Bangladesh the returnees will have to remain in a 14-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, seven more special flights have been scheduled for the next five days to ferry Bangladeshis from India.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate two flights from Kolkata to Dhaka on May 1 and May 3, two flights from Delhi on May 2 and May 5, and one flight from Mumbai on May 3.
US-Bangla Airlines will operate two flights from Chennai on May 1 and May 2.