MA Mannan, Bhola: Hundreds of Australian Bangladeshi nationals are trapped for months in Bangladesh. They are trapped in Bangladesh due to severe spreading of corona virus.

The stranded citizens are in complete uncertainty as the High Commissions of Bangladesh and Australia are neither in any cooperation nor in any arrangement for non-commercial flights. Without arranging return flight, the Air Bangladesh wants to offer a business class ticket at the rate of Tk 7 to 10 lakhs (Bangladeshi) in lieu of economy class ticket which can be bought in about Tk 3 lakhs. Still no flight in schedule.

Meanwhile Zakir Hossain and Khandaker Badrudoza Bandhan who are stranded in Bangladesh, expatriate of Sydney and Melbourne respectively, spoke to Mohammad Abdul Matin (Persident of Sydney Press and Media Council) by telephone and said that they had been stuck in Bangladesh for more than six months.

Another trapped citizen also said in an emotional voice, "We have made a list of 196 Australian Bangladeshi stranded people and held a zoom meeting in WhatsApp group. We can return if the Australian High Commission arranges a non-commercial flight."

Most recently four India consecutive flights with more than 100 passengers on each trip have left for Australia. It has been possible because of the diplomatic contact of the High Commission.

Stranded citizen’s sources in Bangladesh informed the Muslim Times that they have had several contacts with the Australian High Commission in Dhaka and the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra. But they got no result yet. They need united contact to solve this problem.