Flight operations under the air bubble agreement between India and Bangladesh are likely to resume from September 4 instead of tomorrow, sources at the Civil Aviation Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have said.

Earlier, dates of resuming flights between the two countries were deferred twice.

Speaking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, State Minister for Civil Aviation M Mahbub Ali today said that flights with India will hopefully start from September 4 under the air bubble agreement.

Air Vice Marshal Mofidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, said, "We hope to issue a circular mentioning different conditions on resuming flights with India by tonight."

On August 28, Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation in a circular said flight operations between the two countries may resume from September 3 under the air bubble agreement.

The circular also said passengers travelling from Bangladesh to India will be subjected to mandatory RT-PCR tests on arrival at Indian airports at their own expense.

Passengers holding tourist visas, however, will currently not be allowed to enter India, it said.

With rising demands in Bangladesh to resume flight operations, CAAB on August 4 sent a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India seeking its approval for resumption of the flight operations from August 11 under the air bubble agreement as infections in both countries have decreased significantly in recent days.

In response, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a circular stating that it may resume the arrangement from September 3.

The circular said India's civil aviation ministry examined the proposal in consultation with the local health authorities and would recommend the resumption of operations with seven flights a week.