Stranded in ME, Europe

Several hundred Bangladeshis are facing uncertainty over returning home from some Middle Eastern and European countries as they remain stranded there for days following suspension of flight operations, say officials of international carriers.

Most of them are stranded in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman as these countries recently suspended flight operations to and from Dhaka to stop spread of coronavirus.

Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh (CAAB) also instructed all foreign carriers operating flights to and from Dhaka not to bring in passengers, including Bangladeshis, from any country in Europe except England. The directive came into force at noon on Monday.

Among those stranded in Saudi Arabia are 37 staff members of a foreign airlines. They could not fly to Dhaka as the Saudi government banned flights to and from Bangladesh earlier this week, said a stranded staff member.

Earlier on Tuesday, Biman Bangladesh Airlines brought home over 409 Bangladeshis from Saudi Arabia after securing special permission from the Saudi civil aviation authority. The passengers, most of whom went there to perform umrah, had been stranded in the Gulf country for several days.

Meanwhile, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman last night said they refused three Bangladeshis entry to the country as the trio were travelling from Sweden on a Qatar Airways flight. The aircraft carried many other passengers from Doha.

"We are very disappointed with Qatar Airways over carrying passengers from the European country defying a ban," he told The Daily Star.

The CAAB chief said Qatar Airways told them that the three passengers took permission from the Bangladesh embassy in Qatar for travelling to Dhaka.

Mafidur said they referred the issue to the foreign ministry to decide about it.

Earlier in the day, Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told reporters that they asked all foreign carriers not to fly in passengers from European countries via a third country.

PASSENGERS SUFFER DELAY

Among the three passengers denied entry to Bangladesh last night is Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan.

In a video message posted on social media, Mozammel had said, "We have been stranded at Doha [international] airport for 24 hours since March 16. Me and my wife came to Doha airport from Stockholm by a Qatar Airways flight on way to Dhaka. But after our arrival in Doha, a customer service official told us that the Bangladesh government will not allow any passenger from a European state to enter the country."

Mozemmel, who went to Sweden to see his daughter, said before boarding the aircraft in Stockholm, he repeatedly requested the carriers' staff to make sure whether it would be able to take them to Dhaka.

He said the airlines authorities assured him that there would be no problem.

"We have been waiting at the Doha airport for the last 24 hours. The airlines authorities didn't give us any food other than drinking water. Following repeated requests, they gave us coupons to have food. The quality of food is very poor," he alleged.

Despite repeated attempts, this newspaper couldn't reach Qatar Airlines officials in Dhaka over phone for comments.

BIMAN CANCELS 14 FLIGHTS

Yesterday, Biman was forced to cancel at least 14 flights on five domestic routes and two flights on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route due to a shortage of passengers.

The flight operations on the five domestic routes -- Dhaka-Jashore, Dhaka-Saidpur, Dhaka-Rajshahi, Dhaka-Chattogram, and Dhaka-Sylhet -- would remain suspended from March 19-22 due to shortage of passengers, said Biman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mokabbir Hossain.

Earlier, the national flag carrier had suspended flight operations to 10 destinations -- Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Kolkata, New Delhi, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Kathmandu -- as those countries suspended air communications to and from Dhaka over coronavirus fears.

Biman is now operating flights on six routes out of 17, said officials.