Many expatriates are in trouble due to make sudden decision of providing the COVID-19 negative certificate compulsory before any air travel at Shahjalal International Airport. They allege that they are being harassed and financially harmed by the decision of the airlines or different countries.

Despite being physically fit, the Italian government deported 147 passengers from Bangladesh to Rome airport on July 9. Later, Italy banned all flights from Bangladesh till October. After the return of Bangladeshis to China, Japan and South Korea like Italy, many of them were identified as corona. That is why those countries have also banned flights from Bangladesh.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have not given any instructions to the passengers to make the CWID certificate mandatory, said Air Vice Marshal Mohammad, chairman of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (BACA) Mofidur Rahman. He however said, different countries have spoken of having the Covid certificate. Many airlines have also asked passengers to keep a CVID certificate.

In this situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has called an inter-ministerial meeting on Sunday. The chairman of Bebichak said that the issue of Kovid examination will be discussed in that meeting.

None of the officials in charge of Emirates’ Dhaka office wanted to comment on the matter. They did not want to say how many passengers have fallen victim to such a situation. However, an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Emirates had made it mandatory for their passengers to have a COVID test certificate. According to Emirates sources, apart from being published on the website, the passengers were also informed by e-mail and SMS. However, it may not go to anyone.

“There are no direct flights from Bangladesh to Italy,” he said. The Italian Foreign Ministry had requested permission for a chartered flight to repatriate its citizens and permanent residents from Bangladesh. Now they have banned flights from Bangladesh until October. We should strongly object to this.