Authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a ban on all passenger flights, both international and domestic, from 14 April for a week period during which the country is set to enter into a strict week-long lockdown. 

According to a report in The Dhaka Tribune, just days before the lockdown, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) had canceled around 500 international flights. However, cargo planes, special charted planes, and special flights for foreign diplomats would remain exempted from the ban. 

As the COVID-19 cases sprial out of control in the country, the government is left with no but to go for a strict lockdown. All public transport would be closed for a week. 

However, the ban on passenger flights comes as a rude shock to the country’s aviation industry which has still been struggling to make up with losses suffered during last year’s lockdown. 

“Last year we suffered a lot. Although we were gradually recovering by the end of the same year, the new lockdown changes all that,” Kamrul Islam, the general manager of US-Bangla Airlines, was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune. 

 “There are airport parking charges, airport office fees, and staff costs. There is a steep cost for aircraft maintenance if they remain idle. Also, we are still not fully operational internationally.” he added.