The Bangladesh High Commission in London has arranged a chartered flight for the citizens stuck in the United Kingdom due to coronavirus lockdown.
This special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be chartered and operated by Bangladesh Air Force Welfare Trust (BAFWT) and is scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow Airport on May 10, and depart the same day, the High Commission said on Sunday.
Bangladeshi citizens stranded in the UK and willing to return to Bangladesh have been asked to urgently register with the High Commission online: https://forms.gle/4x4JKfy9jxGDaujL7
Since seats at the chartered flight are limited, passengers will be registered on a first-come-first-serve basis and subject to availability.
The High Commission will get in touch individually with all registered passengers to notify them further details about the flight following the registration.
Travelers currently stranded in Bangladesh and willing to return to the UK availing the chartered flight have also been asked register urgently with the Bangladesh Air Force Welfare Trust online: https://www.baf.mil.bd/bafwt/tickets.php.
The British High Commission in Dhaka earlier sent UK citizens in several chartered flights.
During those flights, the British government also repatriated 100 Bangladeshi students stranded in the UK at the request of Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem.
Like many other countries, both Bangladesh and Britain suspended their regular air links in March to stem the coronavirus spread.
Since then, the High Commission in London said they had taken several initiatives and efforts to reach out to Bangladeshi citizens and students stranded in the UK with an advisory to register with them for their repatriation facilitation.
A large number of Bangladeshi students have registered with the “Bangladesh High Commission, London COVID-19 Emergency Repatriation Committee”.
And then the High Commission in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has successfully arranged this special chartered repatriation flight for all stranded Bangladesh citizens in the UK.
However, given the overwhelming numbers of stranded Bangladeshis wishing to return to Bangladesh, the Bangladesh government decided to arrange a special flight chartered by the Bangladesh Air Force.
The High Commission also conveyed its “deep appreciation” to the British government, in particular, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and state minister for foreign affairs Lord Tariq Ahmad as well as British High Commission in Dhaka Robert Dickson for extending their hands of friendship and goodwill in willing to accommodate Bangladeshi students in their dedicated repatriation flight.
The Bangladesh High Commission London would be working in close coordination with Bangladesh Air Force, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Home Office, UK Border Agency and London Heathrow Airport Authorities to facilitate the smooth repatriation of Bangladeshis stranded in the UK and incoming passengers returning from Bangladesh.
For any further query on the repatriation flight, all concerned are urged to contact the High Commission: +44-07769441030,+44-07404687745 and emails: [email protected] and [email protected].