File photo: Migrant workers at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Special conditions will be applicable to 38 countries
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to resume international commercial flights to a selected group of countries, considering the risk of Covid-19 transmission, from Saturday.
A circular was published on Friday imposing special conditions on travel to 38 countries, said a press release from CAAB on Saturday.
Earlier, all international flights were suspended from April 14 as the government imposed a strict lockdown from that day to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“Following the government guidance and instruction, with effect from 0001 BST on 1st May 2021 until further notice, scheduled passenger flights between Dhaka and some selected countries shall resume operation as per their approved time slots under Summer-2021 schedule. Mentionable that Air Bubble flights will remain suspended until further notice,” the circular said.
It also made mandatory for all incoming and outgoing passengers, except for children below the age of 10, to possess a PCR-based Covid-19 negative certificate.
“The PCR test shall be done within 72 hours of the flight departure time,” it said.
For incoming and outgoing flights, CAAB also instructed that both narrow-body or wide-body aircraft will keep at least the last row of the economy class and one seat of business class (unless otherwise instructed) cabin vacant for any suspected Covid-19 positive passenger(s).
Moreover, all health directives, including disinfection, social distancing, and other procedures at the airport or in the aircraft, shall be followed strictly along with other CAAB directives, it added.
According to the circular, countries have been categorized under three groups — A, B and C — for transporting passengers.
Group A
For countries under Group A, no incoming (as the point of origin) or outgoing passengers will be allowed to and from…