Dhaka: The largest private carrier of the country US-Bangla Airlines is to operate special flights to four international destinations from April 17 to carry migrant workers back to their workplaces and to bring back those wishing to come home on emergency amid the lockdown.

These special flights will be operated on Dhaka-Dubai, Dhaka-Muscat, Dhaka-Doha and Dhaka-Singapore routes, said the airline in a media release on April 16.

The airline added that nine flights will be operated on Dhaka-Dubai route, while seven on Dhaka-Muscat route, four on Dhaka-Doha and one on Dhaka-Singapore route every week from April 17.

All the passengers must possess coronavirus negative certificates taken 72 hours befre departure. Also, the returnees upon arrival will be subject to institutional quarantine of 14 days at their own cost.

From April 14, the government imposed a countrywide one-week long lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus spread. Weeklong total flight suspension to and from Bangladesh followed, which left thousands of migrant workers stranded in the country.

To repatriate them immediately before their visas get expired or they lose their jobs, on April 15, the government announced to allow special flights from April 17.