Biman to operate special Dhaka-Rome flight Oct 28

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate a special flight from Dhaka to Rome on October 28. Mokabbir Hossain, managing director and CEO of the national flag carrier, said this through a WhatsApp message yesterday.

The national airliner came up with the decision as the European country has withdrawn a flight embargo for Bangladeshis with valid stay permits last week.

Passengers have been asked to contact Biman sales counter for booking, said the Biman MD. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates have recently started carrying Bangladeshi passengers to Italy. Among the four airlines, only Biman will operate a direct flight from Dhaka to Rome. Around 15,000 people are waiting to return to the European country at present.

Hridoy Ahmed, administrator of Italy Help Centre -- a platform of Italy-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers -- yesterday told The Daily Star that although the airlines have started flights, many of the 15,000 Bangladeshi expatriates won't be able to return to Italy as validity of their resident permission has already expired.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, air operators will be able to carry maximum 260 passengers.