In a bid to stop the new coronavirus variant from spreading in the country, the government has designated seven hotels in Dhaka for keeping UK returnees in quarantine.
The Health Ministry on Thursday issued a letter in this regard to the authorities concerned, including the airport unit of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division.
The ministry also wrote to officials concerned to ensure security at the seven hotels.
Bangladesh is one of the countries that has only imposed some rules for passenger flights coming from the UK instead of cancelling the flights altogether, in the wake of the spread of a new variant of coronavirus. Around 50 countries have, so far, banned flights to and from the UK, according to media reports.
The seven hotels are Best Western Plus Maya and Grace 21 Smart Hotel in Nikunja, Hotel Omni Residency in Banani, and Hotel Afford Inn, White Palace Hotel, Marino Royal Hotel and Memento International in Uttara.
The decision came following the directive given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday to stop the new virus variant, discovered in the UK, from entering Bangladesh through international passengers.
The Cabinet Division then decided on the same day that all passengers coming from the UK must remain in institutional quarantine for 14 days at their own expense. It was supposed to come into effect from Friday.
Experts praised the decision to impose a mandatory quarantine for UK arrivals, but said it should be free of cost.
