Domestic flights on Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur routes resumed on a limited scale on Monday, after a 67-day shutdown to limit the spread of coronavirus.
A decision on resumption of international flights, suspended until June 15, will be taken after June 16, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) officials.
In compliance with hygiene rules, flight operations started on three domestic routes on a limited scale.
As a result, since the morning the country's major international gateway, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), became active with passenger movement.
To halt the spread of lethal coronavirus, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken a good number of initiatives. Passenger body temperature is measured before entering the airport building while the CAAB is also providing hand sanitizers, masks, and hand gloves etc.
Meanwhile, CAAB security officials were also inspecting whether the passengers maintained social distance.
According to airport sources, since morning scheduled flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair departed HSIA towards Chattogram, Sylhet, and Saidpur.
To observe the overall situation, CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman visited the airport with other officials.
While talking to journalists at the airport, he said, "Passengers are being monitored in accordance with the highest hygiene rules. There is no negligence here. We are also providing passenger safety equipment".
"We have instructed the airliners not to take more than 70 percent of their passenger capacities. The airlines will also call the passenger the day before the journey and tell him/ her not to come to the airport if s/he is ill. We hope passengers abide by the highest hygiene rules", he added.
CAAB spokesman Mohammad Sohel Kamruzzaman said the suspension on international flights has been extended to June 15.
In a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, the authority concerned restricted flight operations to 16 countries except for the Dhaka-China route.
The countries are Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the UK.
However, cargo transportation and special charter flight operations remain normal.