To curb the spread of coronavirus, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has imposed an entry restriction for people visiting Bangladesh from countries in the European Union (EU) and Iran, effective till April 15.
Those who have been to these countries since March 1 are also included in the restriction.
A letter in this regard, signed by CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, was sent to the concerned departments of the three Bangladeshi international airports, land ports, seaports, and the Ministry of Health on March 28.
CAAB sources said they have already extended the suspension of passenger flights to all countries except China till April 14.
However, they took this extra precautionary measure to ensure that citizens or visitors from the aforementioned countries are not able to enter Bangladesh through China.
According to CAAB, citizens of EU nations and Iran who have been living outside their countries since before March 1 and have already received Bangladeshi visas will be exempt from the ban.
Visitors of Bangladeshi origin with no visa required (NVR) endorsements will have to be quarantined at home for 14 days even if they have a doctor’s certificate showing they are free of any Covid-19 symptoms.
The CAAB Chairman said more people have been infected with coronavirus in EU countries and Iran compared to other regions, according to data provided by the World Health Organization.
“This has been done in an attempt to keep Bangladeshi citizens free from further infections,” he added.
Meanwhile, as per another order from CAAB, private and commercial helicopter flights will also be suspended until April 14.
Private helicopters can only be used for corporate, medical evacuation, humanitarian or relief aircraft operations.
Like any flight operations, hygiene equipment must be present and sanitization procedures for passengers and crew must be strictly followed.
