The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has extended suspension of passenger flights to all countries till May 16.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday.
On Monday, CAAB submitted several proposals seeking permission to operate flights, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mohibul Haque.
Mohibul said the ministry however decided to extend the suspension of all international flights to and from Bangladesh considering the current global situation of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry took the decision after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said: “We had submitted some proposals to the ministry seeking to operate flights . However, as per the ministry’s order we now extended the ongoing suspension of all inbound and outbound flights.”
But cargo flights, air ambulance, and special flights would operate freely during this time, he added.
Currently, flights are being operated from Bangladesh to only China.
On May 3, a top official at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said at least two airlines in the country were likely to get the green light to operate flights in international routes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that halted the aviation businesses.
However, Aviation Secretary Mohibul also said they would set a meeting on Thursday with CAAB, where they would discuss all matters concerning airports and flights.
Apart from this, Bangladesh Air Force Base Bangabandhu would carry out disinfection activities in and around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area on Wednesday from 10am.
Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, director of the airport, confirmed the matter.
CAAB Chairman Mafidur also said the decision regarding Bangladeshi nationals who are stranded abroad, and foreign nationals stranded in the country, will be taken at the inter-ministerial meeting.
In this regard, the Foreign Ministry has called for a virtual meeting on Wednesday around 11am.
Meanwhile, different countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Bhutan, and different European countries so far operated several special chartered flights amid the flight suspension to repatriate their citizens from here.
Bangladesh also facilitated chartered flights to bring back its nationals from a number of countries, including India, Singapore and Thailand.
