COVID-19: More Indian, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan expats bid farewell to Oman
Vande Bharat Mission phase six will begin on September 1
Muscat: 419 Bangladeshis will bid goodbye to Oman when they board the 777-300 Biman Bangladesh flight on 31st August. The fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission is ongoing as scheduled with three flight loads of Indians having left Oman two days back to Lucknow/Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad while the Indian embassy in Oman has released the schedule for phase six that will start on September 1.
290 Sri Lankans will also return home via a chartered flight arranged by the Sri Lankan Community Social Club (SLCSC).
Mohammad Tawhid, Manager of Bangladesh Social Club says they have been helping Bangladeshis in Oman with flight arrangements, as well as with assistance to those in need. “The flight is being organized with permission from Bangladesh government and coordinated through Bangladesh embassy in Oman. The Bangladesh Social Club reaches help to our citizens staying in the interior regions to register for flights, to reach Muscat for their flight as well as organize their stay in the capital before flying them out of Oman.”
All repatriation flights to Bangladesh fly to Dhaka. The one-way ticket costs around 146 OMR which is borne by the employer of the repatriated staff either fully or in part. “The Social Club also helps those in dire needs, as not many get their ticket cost covered by their employers. We have a stretcher case as well in next week’s flight with a patient whose ribs were fractured in an accident. He is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital here but we are hoping to transfer and transport him safely back to Bangladesh,” adds Tawhid.
Roy Lasantha, President of SRCSC informs Gulf News that repatriated citizens have to go through a set of procedures such as mandatory PCR tests that need to be done 72 hours before departure from Oman, followed by another test that needs to be taken on landing at either Colombo or Mattala airports, with a final one taken after completing the 14-day mandatory institutional quarantine in Sri Lanka.
“SRCSC helps passengers organize the mandatory institutional quarantine through DMCs (Destination Management Companies) in Sri Lanka so that they go through a seamless process after landing. Afte the PCR test is done at the Sri Lankan airports, they are taken by the army to their designated quarantine spots,” adds Lasantha.