The Civil Aviation Authorities, Bangladesh on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines on COVID-19 protocol, asking all passengers travelling to Bangladesh from the European Union countries and the United Kingdom to must go on a mandatory two-week institutional quarantine from tonight.
The latest instruction signed by the CAAB member (flight standard and regulations) Group Captain Chowdhury M Zia Ul Kabir stated that ‘On arrival in Bangladesh, all passengers originating from any European country and the United Kingdom shall have to complete mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotel at passenger’s own expenses.’
It added that upon completion of the quarantine period COVID-19 PCR test to be carried out and the passenger will be released if the test result is negative.
Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, the director at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said reviewing the deterioration tendency of COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country and globally, the authorities decided to enforce the decision 12 past midnight Bangladesh Standard Time on March 31.
The decision will remain in force until further notice, he said.
He told New Age that passengers travelling to Bangladesh now would be under the rule if the flight lands after midnight.
The CAAB instruction, however, stated that passengers originating from any other countries except Europe and UK shall strictly have to complete a 14-day home quarantine if no COVID-19 symptoms are found on-arrival health check in Bangladesh.
But, if any COVID-19 symptoms are detected or observed, he/she must complete mandatory two-week institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotel at the passenger’s own expenses.
The CAAB also revised their previous instructions regarding COVID-19 issued on December 6, 2020, and January 23, 2021.
It also stated irrespective of the COVID-19 vaccination, all passengers coming to Bangladesh shall mandatorily possess and show PCR based COVID-19 negative certificate during departure from the origin and on arrival at the airport.
The PCR test shall be done within 72 hours of the flight departure time.
mj/
