Air communication with India is likely to resume from next week on a limited scale, considering the needs of people of both countries, sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said.

"Last week we sent a proposal to India, citing conditions to resume flights between the two countries. We hope to get reply from our counterpart within a day or two. And we hope to resume flights to India from next week under air bubble arrangement," Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, told The Daily Star today.

Under the "air bubble" agreement, passengers of the two countries will not be able to visit any other country after landing in Bangladesh or India, sources at the CAAB said.

Millions of people including patients, businessmen and students used to visit India every year while many Indians visited Bangladesh on various purposes.

Bangladesh suspended operating all international flights on April 14 after the second wave of coronavirus emerged in the country.

After being closed for 16 days, operation of international flights resumed from May 1, except for 12 countries including India.

In its latest circular on July 5, CAAB made a fresh list of eight countries, including India, from where no passengers are allowed to enter Bangladesh.

Air communication with India was closed for several months last year during the pandemic.

Flights started between Bangladesh and India on October 28 last year, under the air bubble agreement.

All Indian Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Bangladesh resumed operations from today as the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions have been eased.

A Facebook post from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka yesterday (Tuesday) said all applications, except for tourist visa, will be accepted.

CAAB in its letter to the Director General of Civil Aviation of India on August 4 had proposed 21 air bubble flights per week for both countries. It also said flights may resume from August 11.

Apart from Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novo Air and US Bangla, 5 Indian airlines used to operate flights from Bangladesh on various routes to India. The airlines included Air India, Indigo, SpiceJet, Vistara and GoAir.