157 Bangladeshi citizens who were stranded in Australia because of the Air travel ban due to the coronavirus outbreak, have departed Melbourne for Dhaka on a special Sri Lankan Airlines flight on Friday afternoon.
The flight is supposed to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at local time 00:40 hrs on Saturday, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra facilitated the return with support from authorities of Bangladesh and Australia and with active cooperation from the Victorian Bangladeshi Community Foundation (VBCF) and Melton Travel Center.
Melton Travel Center was appointed to coordinate with all interested passengers and to manage funds and ticketing tasks.
The High Commission in Canberra received 340 requests from Bangladesh origin persons in Australia who expressed willingness to return to Bangladesh.
Based on this estimate of 300 plus stranded Bangladeshis seeking to return, the High Commission secured in-principle approval of Bangladesh authorities to accept special non-scheduled flight from Australia.
All travelers were previously instructed to carry up-to-date COVID symptom-free or COVID negative certificate issued within three days before departure.
