The returnees are mostly patients who went there for treatment, said the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

The flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines with 163 passengers (162 adults and one infant) arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from New Delhi around 4:50pm, Biman’s Deputy General Manager (PR) Tahera khondoker told UNB.

Another chartered flight of US-Bangla Airlines with 169 passengers (164 adults and five infants) arrived here from Chennai around 2:56pm, said its General Manager (PR) M Kamrul Islam.

There are some students among the returnees, too, according to Bangladesh Commission in New Delhi.

A team of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, led by High Commissioner Muhammad Imran, provided required assistance to the Bangladesh nationals at Indira Gandhi International Airport before their departure.

Another group of 164 Bangladeshis are expected to fly home on Saturday from Chennai. Most of this group of stranded people had been under treatment at Bengaluru’s Narayana Hospital.

More such flights can be arranged to facilitate the return of stranded Bangladeshis given approval by governments of both Bangladesh and India, said the High Commission.

So far, nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis, stranded in Indian cities because of the lockdown since March 25, returned home by air and land routes with the assistance of Bangladesh missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati and Agartala, said the High Commission which has kept their efforts on to facilitate the return of more Bangladeshis who are still stuck up in India.

Provided necessary approval is available from the authorities of the two countries, information in this regard will be disseminated through the mission’s website, Facebook page and other means, while students will be notified through their WhatsApp groups, according to Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi.

The Indian government continues with the restrictions on both international and domestic travel by air, rail and public transport.

New Delhi is also strictly following the restrictions on bringing home Indian nationals stuck abroad.

Repeated requests are being made for the foreigners, including diplomats, to follow the lockdown guidelines.

Bangladesh missions in India are keeping constant touch with the policymakers in Dhaka to take home all the stranded Bangladeshis in India within shortest possible time.

All Bangladesh nationals have been urged to face the situation with patience, follow the rules of the local government without being panicked and avoid any international travel considering health threats caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far facilitated the repatriation of over 2,000 stranded Bangladeshi citizens from China, India, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Oman and Turkey, including pilgrims, students, tourists, patients and their attendants, and businessmen.

It said they are fully committed to working under the overall guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the critical moment of the coronavirus outbreak.

Bangladesh missions abroad are also instructed to look after the expatriate Bangladeshi community living in different countries.

Under the guidance of the ministry, the Bangladesh missions abroad have established ‘hotline numbers’ and many missions formed ‘Pool of Doctors’ to provide online medical advice to the expatriate Bangladeshis.

The government of Bangladesh has so far facilitated repatriation of 4,422 foreigners living in Bangladesh, said the MoFA on Thursday.

The citizens are from a number of countries, including Bhutan, Malaysia, the USA, Japan, Russia, Germany, Canada, Australia, the Maldives, Turkey, the UK and Singapore.