Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier of Bangladesh, has resumed its operations of international passenger flights from Sunday (June 21). The airline had earlier temporarily suspended all its flight operations since March 21 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The carrier will currently operate only one flight a week every Sunday on Dhaka-London-Dhaka route.

Airline’s Deputy General Manager Tahera Khandaker said that the first flight on June 21, BG001 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for London with a total number of 187 passengers on board.

Hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks were given to the passengers on the flight. Instead of usual in-flight meal service for passengers, dry meals in food boxes were served to them and no cold beverages were served to them, adhering to guidelines provided by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

As per the statement of Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), passengers travelling from Dhaka to London do not require health certificates declaring that they are not infected with COVID-19 but they have to fill up a health declaration form as per the guidelines issued by International Civil Aviation Organization.

However, all passengers departing for London will be required to stay in quarantine for 14 days as per the policy of that country.

Earlier on June 1, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has allowed domestic flights to operate following the key health safety and COVID-19 prevention measures to ensure the health of all passengers and employees.

In regards to COVID-19 transmission in Bangladesh, the country has reported a total number of 1,12,306 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 1,464 patients have lost their lives. However, 45,077 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Monday (June 22).