Hasina shortens Singapore trip to rush back home after US-Bangla plane crash

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is returning home from Singapore on Tuesday, cutting short her trip to the city state following the fatal crash of a Bangladeshi airliner in Nepal.

Hasina went to Singapore on Sunday on her first official tour to the southeast Asian nation.

She was scheduled to return on Wednesday.

Her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said she has decided to cut short the visit and will return on Tuesday after the plane crashed on Monday afternoon.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Hasina have expressed condolence over the casualties in the accident.

At least 50 people have died in the crash of the plane that flew from Dhaka with 71 on board, including 32 Bangladeshis.

Hasina also spoke to her Nepalese counterpart Khadga Prasad Oli over phone from Singapore at 7:50pm local time.

The Nepalese prime minister also expressed sorrow over the deadly crash. He told Hasina he had rushed to the airport and issued necessary instructions to conduct the rescue operation.

Hasina offered help and said Bangladesh would send a team when the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu resumes flight operations.

She also assured Oli of all sorts of help regarding the accident.