Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita has cautioned passengers against falling prey to misinformation amidst flight disruptions caused by the prevailing situation in the Middle East.
Afroza issued these remarks during a meeting held at 2pm on Tuesday at the ministry’s conference room to discuss the management of Middle East-bound flights and the assurance of passenger services.
During the session, she directed officials to ensure that passengers do not face harassment and to provide priority assistance to those whose visas have expired or are nearing expiration once the situation normalises.
The minister further instructed airlines to maintain constant communication with passengers and provide accurate updates, including the operation of 24/7 emergency contact numbers where necessary.
She also appealed to airlines to assist passengers from a humanitarian perspective by refraining from imposing any additional charges during this crisis.
Officials briefed the meeting that the airspace of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait remains closed due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Most recently, flight operations to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, have also been suspended. The meeting heard that misinformation is causing significant confusion and suffering for passengers.
Plans to operate additional flights to transport stranded passengers once the situation stabilises were also discussed in detail.
Earlier, State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat delivered the welcome address.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Nasreen Jahan; Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq; as well as senior officials from the ministry, its subordinate agencies, and representatives from private airlines.
