Dhaka: The government has suspended the entry of international commercial passenger flights into Bangladesh from ten countries for 10 day effective from March 22 to curb the spread of novel coronavirus in the country.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen announced the decision at a press briefing at State Guesthouse Padma in the capital on Saturday.
Flights from these countries–Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore and India–will remain restricted from 12 am tonight to March 31, he said.
“Apart from these 10 countries, flight operations from the UK, Bangkok, China and Hong Kong will be open as it is not possible to lockdown whole country”, he added.
The minister reiterated that 14 days' home quarantine mandatory for anyone arriving in Bangladesh from abroad.
While replaying a question, the minister said: “The government is bringing in 10,000 coronavirus-test kits and 10,000 medical equipment from China. The test-kits and equipment will reach anytime in the country in chartered plane”.
Earlier in the morning, the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB), issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airman) in this regard.
“In order to prevent the spread of covid-19 (novel corona virus 2019) disease in Bangladesh, all scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft departing from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore and India will not be allowed to land at any international airport of Bangladesh,” the NOTAM read.
Earlier, these 10 countries restricted the entry of Bangladeshis to their territories over the coronavirus fear.
Bangladesh also imposed an embargo on entry of all inbound travelers from Europe except the UK, till March 31.
Bangladesh reported the country’s first death from coronavirus on March 18 as the total coronavirus cases now stand at 20.
The pandemic coronavirus has so far infected 275,871 people around the world as of Saturday, according to worldometer.
Of them, 172,561 are currently treated with 7,765 being in serious or critical condition.
So far, 103,310 cases had outcomes and of them, 91,912 (89 percent) recovered and 11 percent died.
COVID-19 is affecting 185 countries and territories around the world and one international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harboured in Yokohama, Japan).
The World Health Organization on March 11 declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
