3 Sweden-returnees denied entry; kept in Dhaka airport

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh tonight did not allow three Bangladeshis to enter the country after they arrived from Sweden in a Qatar Airways flight.

Passengers from Doha, which was the transit point for the passengers from Sweden, however, were allowed to enter the country.

Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, told this while talking to The Daily Star.

The CAAB on Saturday asked all foreign airlines not to carry passengers including Bangladeshis from any European countries except for England from 12:01am, Monday.

"We are very disappointed with Qatar Airways for carrying passengers from the European country defying our ban," Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said.

The CAAB chief said the Qatar Airways told them that the three Bangladeshis took permission from the Bangladesh embassy in Qatar for travelling to Dhaka.

Mafidur said they have referred the issue to the foreign ministry.

In a video message posted on social media earlier, Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan, one of the passengers, said, "We have been stranded at Doha [International] Airport for the last 24 hours since March 16. Me and my wife came to Doha airport from Stockholm on a Qatar Airways flight on the way to Dhaka.

"But after landing in Doha, a customer service official told us that the Bangladesh government will not allow any passenger coming from European countries."

Mozemmel also said before boarding the aircraft from Stockholm, he repeatedly requested the airlines' staff to make sure whether the airlines would be able to carry them to Dhaka.

"I told the Qatar Airlines staff that we have come to know that Bangladesh government has said that they will not allow any passenger from Europe after 12:01am on Sunday. I asked them whether they would be able to carry us to Dhaka within the deadline," he added.

Mozemmel, who went to Sweden to see her daughter, said the airlines authorities said there would be no problem in entering Bangladesh.

"We have been waiting at the Doha airport for the last 48 hours. The airlines authorities didn't give us any food rather than water. Following repeated requests, they gave us coupons to get food whose quality is too poor to eat," he also said.