Four chartered flights from Bangladesh to the UK will take 850 British nationals home.
The charter flights will depart for London from Dhaka on 21, 23, 25 and 26 April, with accompanying transfers from Sylhet, according to British High Commission in Dhaka.
“We have invited British Nationals in Bangladesh who wish to return home. Priority is initially being given to vulnerable passengers, most at risk from the effects of coronavirus, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions,” the High Commission statement said on Saturday.
Commenting on the move, Foreign Office Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said: “We are in a truly unprecedented situation, and I know people are concerned about getting home to their loved ones.”
Foreign Office staff in the UK and Bangladesh have been working tirelessly with the Bangladeshi authorities to help British travellers who want to come back to the UK and these flights mean people can now do that, he added.
“Our staff will continue to support those Britons who are in Bangladesh throughout this crisis, and beyond.”
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said, “I am pleased to confirm the first charter flight from Bangladesh to bring British travellers back home, especially for those most vulnerable and those most in need.”
Our team continues to work hard to arrange a safe journey back home for as many people as possible, he added.
The British High Commission Dhaka will remain in operation and continue to provide consular support to any British nationals who remain in Bangladesh and require assistance.
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