Addressing recent speculations, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) provided clarity regarding a cargo flight purportedly originating from Israel that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CAAB refuted claims of any direct air service agreement between Bangladesh and Israel, emphasizing that no Israeli flight had indeed landed in Bangladesh.
The authority expressed concern over the sensationalized headlines circulating in various media outlets, cautioning against the dissemination of potentially misleading information.
Clarifying the events, the CAAB revealed that two cargo flights had landed at Dhaka airport this month. The first, arriving on April 7, departed later the same day with garment products. The second, originating from Tel Aviv, landed on Thursday evening and departed early Friday morning. Both flights, operated by US-based National Airlines, were part of bilateral agreements between Bangladesh and the US.
Despite recent developments, it’s important to note that Bangladesh and Israel maintain no diplomatic ties, with Bangladesh among the UN member states refraining from recognizing Israel. The ban on travel to Israel from Bangladesh remains in effect, reaffirmed by Dhaka’s stance despite adjustments made to e-passports in 2021.
The CAAB’s statement aims to provide clarity amidst swirling discussions and to ensure accurate reporting in the media landscape.
