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Published : 13 Apr 2024, 06:51 PM
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has sought to dispel rumours swirling on social and mainstream media about two direct flights purportedly from Israel landing in Dhaka, stating that these “may create confusion”.
Contrary to Facebook posts claiming them as “Israeli flights”, the aircraft were owned by an American airline, not any Israeli company, nor did they bring any cargo from Israel.
In a statement on Saturday, CAAB said: “Presenting such misleading news is unexpected and considered deliberate. Everyone concerned is requested to refrain from presenting such news.”
Bangladesh does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The South Asian country is also vocal in support of Palestine’s freedom on international fora.
The highest level of the government has been seeking international intervention, describing the deaths of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli forces’ operations in Gaza as “genocide”.
In this context, the landing of the two flights in Dhaka drew a lot of questions. Many criticised the government over the incident.
According to CAAB, one aircraft landed in Dhaka at 7:22pm on Apr 7 and left with readymade garments at 11:55pm.
The second aircraft came at 7:55pm on Apr 11, the Eid-ul-Fitr day. It left Dhaka at 12:29am on Apr 12 with the cargo.
Each of the Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft can carry 108 tonnes of goods.
They belong to an American company called National Airlines and are registered in the US. Launched in 1991, the company operates on-demand cargo and chartered passenger flights.
CAAB said: “Bangladesh and the US have a bilateral Air Service Agreement, under which the cargo flights arrived in Dhaka. One of them left for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and the other for Europe.
“Bangladesh and Israel do not have any Air Service Agreement and no incident of an Israeli aircraft landing in Bangladesh has occurred.”
