Biman to bring back Bangladeshi nationals from Japan aboard special flights

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate three special flights -- one from Dhaka and two from Japan -- to repatriate citizens of the two countries following a ban on scheduled passenger flights due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Of the three special flights, the national airliner today ferried 109 passengers most of which are Japanese citizens, to Narita Airport in Tokyo," a top official of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told The Daily Star.

"Carrying the passengers, the special flight of Biman left Dhaka airport at around 9:00am," Tahera Khandaker, deputy general manager (public relations) of Biman, told our correspondent.

She also said Biman will operate another two special flights -- on April 28 and 30 from Japan -- to repatriate Bangladeshi citizens.

Meanwhile, sources in Biman said the national flag carrier is likely to operate a special flight from South Korea to bring back Bangladeshi citizens from the Asian country on April 30.

Earlier on April 25, Biman brought back 163 Bangladeshis from India by a special flight from Delhi.

The airliner is also scheduled to operate three special flights each from Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai on May 1, 2 and 3 respectively to bring back stranded Bangladeshi nationals.