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UK asks citizens to leave Bangladesh


Published : 27 Mar 2020 08:35 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 09:47 AM

The British High Commission in Dhaka has advised the citizens of the United Kingdom to leave Bangladesh amid the government enforced strict social distancing measures and continuous cutting off air links. Passengers can use Biman Bangladesh’s flights which are still open to London and Manchester, the High Commission tweeted on Friday.

Bangladesh on March 21, following other countries, suspended all flights except UK, China, Hong Kong and Thailand in a desperate attempt to halt the coronavirus spread. Later in a new decision, the government suspended flight operation with Bangkok from 12am on Thursday. The Hong Kong route will also be closed from March 29, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

The UK and China routes will remain open until further notice. The government closed all offices and educational institutions and asked people to stay home. Different missions in Dhaka earlier alerted their citizens. Many of them also facilitated the return of their citizens. The US Embassy in Dhaka on its website said they are also trying to figure out the way to send their citizens.

“U.S. Embassy Dhaka is working around the clock to secure flights to the United States for U.S. citizens and their family members who wish to depart Bangladesh. “We do not yet know the exact time or date of these flights but we will provide that information as soon as it is available. Please keep your phones nearby in case we need to call or e-mail you to confirm your interest in the flights or your contact information,” read the embassy statement.

Bangladesh confirmed 48 coronavirus cases. Of them five died. The Europe is the current epicenter of the virus while the number of cases in the US surpassed the China where the new pathogen first emerged.