A total of 114 Bangladesh nationals, who were stranded in the UK due to travel restrictions enforced amidst the coronavirus pandemic, have returned home in a chartered flight.
The special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 9:40am, said Tahera Khandaker, deputy general manager (public relations) of the airline.
All of the passengers were thermally scanned after arrival, airport health officials said.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem had come to the Heathrow Airport to see off the returning passengers, reports UNB.
She said: “We are grateful to Bangladesh Government, especially to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; and for the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Air Force in particular for chartering this flight."
“We also would like to particularly thank UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Home Office, UK Border Agency, London Heathrow Airport Authorities and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for their tremendous support to ensure the safe return of the stranded Bangladeshis during this difficult time of unprecedented coronavirus pandemic," said the high commissioner.
Earlier at the request of Bangladesh High Commission in London, the government arranged the flight, being operated by the national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines and chartered by Bangladesh Air Force Welfare Trust (BAFWT).
The High Commission facilitated the return of the Bangladeshis after forming a Covid-19 Emergency Repatriation Committee.
Initially, more than 200 stranded Bangladeshi citizens, including students, booked their flight, but many of them had cancelled their booking at the very last moment citing personal reasons and in fear of being sent to institutional quarantine in Bangladesh upon their arrival.
However, the High Commission had already provided all the passengers with a health certificate based on their health assessment so that they would be directed to home quarantine only.