CAAB writes to India proposing resumption of flights on different conditions

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) today wrote letter to the concerned authorities of India proposing to resume flights with India on various conditions including Covid-19 vaccination of air passengers.

CAAB today sent the letter to its Indian counterpart, sources said.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said, "India has already shown interest to resume flights with us. We are discussing whether flights can be started through an air bubble agreement between the two countries."

Bangladesh suspended operating all international flights to and from the country on April 14 after the latest wave of Covid-19 in the country.

After being closed for 16 days, operation of international flights resumed from May 1 except for 12 countries including India.

CAAB later added and deducted names of different countries from the list.

In its latest circular issued July 5, CAAB made a fresh list of eight countries including India from where no passengers are allowed to enter Bangladesh.

Earlier, when Covid-19 infection started in the country last year, air communication with India was closed for several months.

The flight started between Bangladesh and India on October 28 last year under the Air Bubble Agreement.

As the Covid-19 situation in India has recently improved, it has shown interest in resuming flights with Bangladesh.

Accordingly, a proposal was also given to the Bangladesh government on behalf of the country.

Foreign Secretary Masood bin Momen recently told the media that flights with India could start from August.

He then said, "We have offered to launch flights with India on a limited scale. We hope to resume flights with India at a convenient time in August."

CAAB chairman Mafidur Rahman said, "We have informed them of some of our conditions for resuming the flight. We have told them that all the passengers must be vaccinated."

The letter also said which categories of passengers could be flown. However, limited flights will start at the beginning.

Apart from Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novo Air and US Bangla, 5 Indian airlines used to operate flights from Bangladesh on various routes to India during normal time.

Indian airlines include Air India, Indigo, SpiceJet, Vistara and GoAir.