The spread of the new strain of coronavirus in the United Kingdom (UK), which is more contagious, sent a shockwave across the world and forced many countries to suspend air connectivity with rest of the world but Bangladesh rather chose to remain watchful so that no inbound passenger from the UK can enter the country without coronavirus negative certificate along with mandatory institutional quarantine at his own cost.
Neighboring country India is likely to extend travel ban, which was imposed on December 23, on the UK considering the gravity of the spread of new coronavirus till January next year.
The government is now ramping up efforts on how to keep Dhaka-London flight active following some safety protocols as Bangladesh considers this airway important to connect the country with the west and many expatriates arrive in the country during the winter season.
Advised by the government, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has taken some preventive measures including mandatory submission of Covid-19 negative certificate, mandatory institutional quarantine and penalizing airlines for carrying corona positive patient.
Talking with the Business Post on Tuesday, Group Captain Chowdhury Md Ziaul Kabir in charge of Flight Standard and Regulations said, civil aviation authority will comply with the directive of the government and health ministry about the new form of coronavirus surfaced in the UK.
"We are now emphasizing on preventive measures so that this new strain of coronavirus which is more contagious couldn't spread in our country with the people coming from the UK", said Ziaul Kabir.
"We have made mandatory the submission of coronavirus negative certificate for all the incoming and outgoing air travelers from the UK. On top of that, travelers from the UK should stay in mandatory institutional quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the country," he said.
If any airline carries coronavirus positive passenger will face penalty, he added.
Doctors and immigration officers have been asked to conduct separate screening of the passengers coming from the UK, said an official of CAAB.
Cabinet Secretary Khandakar Anwarul Islam talked about mandatory institutional quarantine for travelers from the UK either in Askhona Hajj camp or in Diyabari on Monday.
Some hotels have also been booked for quarantine in Dhaka and Sylhet where the travelers have to bear the cost of their stay.
Bangladesh is operating flights with seven countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, UK, Malaysia, Singapore and India amid the pandemic.
sh/wi
