177 Britons leave Dhaka for UK
441 UK citizens evacuated from Dhaka. They were stranded due to flight suspension
Another group of 177 British citizens left Dhaka for London on Thursday afternoon, in the second chartered flight arranged by the British government.
The special British Airways flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3pm, confirmed the British High commission in Dhaka.
With this, 441 United Kingdom citizens have been evacuated from Dhaka so far. They were stranded in Bangladesh due to flight suspension amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The British High Commission in Dhaka thanked the government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Authorities, local police and volunteers from the British High Commission for their help.
"Our priority for these flights continues for vulnerable British nationals in Bangladesh wanting to return home. Two more flights are scheduled for April 25 and 26," said the High Commission in a message.
On April 21, a total of 264 British visitors returned home from Bangladesh.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson was present at the airport to observe the return process, and spoke with the departing British travellers.
Earlier on April 18, the British High Commission announced four charter flights from Bangladesh to bring home 850 British nationals to the UK.
The UK government has committed up to £75 million to help thousands of British people across the world who want to return home, according to the British High Commission in Dhaka.
The British High Commission here remains fully operational and "will continue to provide full consular support to British nationals in Bangladesh," reads the message.
The chartered flights are for UK travellers who usually reside in the UK and their direct dependents.