The information was revealed by Tanvir Ahmed, public relations officer of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

The Chinese government put the city under lockdown due to the risk of the deadly virus spreading.

As a result, many Bangladeshi students studying in various universities of Hubei province got stuck and appealed to the Bangladesh government for evacuation through the Bangladesh embassy in China.

Responding to their appeal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acted kindly and took the necessary measures to bring them back to Bangladesh at short notice, joining countries such as USA, Britain and others in doing the same for their students.

As per the directive from the Prime Minister, a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was sent to China. On the afternoon of February 2, ‘Rescue Ferry Flight BG-7002’ landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 312 Bangladeshis.

The returnees were kept at a makeshift quarantine unit set up at the Ashkona Hajj camp, as it may take upto 14 days for the symptoms of coronavirus to appear in an infected person.  The unit is being maintained by the Bangladesh Army.

The government's Disaster Management and Relief Ministry is also involved in the care of these 312 Bangladeshis. The ministry is regularly supplying whatever they need including items for their recreation.

Government-appointed doctors are constantly monitoring the returnees and carrying out regular healthchecks.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said all the Bangladeshi citizens brought back are doing well – including some who were running a fever as they stepped off the plane and taken to a different hospital. Tests have revealed it was not due to coronavirus.

The novel coronavirus, which spread from China’s Wuhan, has killed 361 people and infected more than 17,300 people globally until Monday.

The majority of these cases – 17,205 – have been recorded in mainland China. Apart from these, Hong Kong has confirmed 14 cases and Macao seven, reports AP.