Flight ban in place till May 30

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh yesterday extended the ban on passenger flight operations with all countries, except China, until May 30 to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman made the disclosure in a video message, adding that flight operations on domestic routes will also be suspended until May 30.

Cargo flights, emergency landing, air ambulance, special flights, and relief-carrying flights will be outside its purview.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday also extended the ban on operations on its 17 international and seven domestic routes till May 30.

A number of countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Bhutan and Nepal have operated special charter flights amid the suspension to take their citizens back.

The government has also facilitated charter flights to bring back its nationals from a number of countries.

Earlier this week, Mafidur Rahman told The Daily Star they were planning to resume at a limited scale after May 16 if Covid-19 situation improves or remains steady.