Caab bars entry of passengers from 8 countries

Passengers from eight countries including India, Nepal and South Africa will not be able to enter Bangladesh, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) said today.

The five other countries are Botswana, Mongolia, Namibia, Panama and Tunisia.

Earlier, in a circular on June 1, Caab put 11 countries -- Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay -- in its black list, which means passengers from those countries would not be allowed to enter Bangladesh.

In its latest circular, Caab dropped the names of Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Malaysia, Maldives, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay from the black list and included South Africa, Botswana, Mongolia, Namibia, Panama and Tunisia.

With immediate effect until further notice, Caab said Bangladeshi expatriate/citizens who visited the eight countries {Group-A) in the previous 15 days will be allowed to travel to Bangladesh provided they have the special approval/authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The circular said Bangladeshi seafarers or engineers of ships who have signed off from the shops from these eight countries within previous 15 days of travel to Bangladesh, can return provided they possess proper and valid documentary evidence about their profession and signing off.

On arrival to the country, in both cases, they have to complete a mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine at government-nominated hotels at their own expense. 

Passengers from 12 countries (Group-B) -- Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, UAE, UK and Uruguay -- are permitted to travel to and from Bangladesh, Caab said in the circular.

Incoming passengers who have already been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 vaccination will have to complete 14 day's strict home quarantine.

Incoming passengers, who have not completed their Covid-19 vaccination doses, shall have to complete a mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine at a government nominated hotels on passenger's own expenses.

Passengers originating from Group-B countries can have transit via the countries of Group-A, provided that they are kept confined within the transit airport under the close supervision of the airlines, added the Caab circular.

Passengers coming from other countries will have to complete 14 days of strict home quarantine.

However, if any Covid-19 symptoms are detected or observed upon arrival, the passenger will be sent to a government-authorised hospital for further check-up or, depending on the intensity of the symptom, will be sent to isolation at government-nominated facilities or hotels at passenger's own expense