Stranded Students to Return from UK Monday

More than 130 Bangladeshi students, currently stranded in the United Kingdom since the suspension of international flights between Dhaka and London due to the coronavirus pandemic, are scheduled to return home on Monday morning.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines special chartered flight BG 4041 is scheduled to depart London for Dhaka at 6:20pm (London time) on Sunday, according to Bangladesh High Commission in London.

The special flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday morning.

Earlier at the request of Bangladesh High Commission in London, the government arranged the flight being operated by the national flag carrier and chartered by Bangladesh Air Force Welfare Trust (BAFWT).

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem would be seeing off the returning students at the London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 2).

''We are grateful to the 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," said High Commissioner Tasneem.

Even though they had initially booking of more than 200 students, many had cancelled their booking at the very last moment in the fear of institutional quarantine in Bangladesh on their arrival, she said.

However, the health certificate issued by Bangladesh High Commission in London based on health assessment of the passengers, High Commissioner Tasneem assured all students that they will be directed to home quarantine only.

Similarly, the High Commission has organised for all passengers travelling from Dhaka to London that they would be guided to home quarantine.

''From the High Commission, we are humbly gratified that we could reunite so many students stranded in the UK with their families in Bangladesh before the Eid-ul-Fitr festival," said the High Commissioner.

Source: UNB