Bangladesh nationals, including members of the national football team, stranded in Nepal amid violent anti-government protests are safe, officials in Dhaka and the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed on Wednesday (September 10).

They will be able to return home once flight operations on the Dhaka–Kathmandu route return to normal, according to officials.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, which had suspended services earlier in the day due to escalating unrest, resumed operations at 6 pm local time. The airport authority has advised passengers to re-confirm their flights with respective airlines before travel.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that bringing back stranded Bangladeshis through India was not possible since they do not hold Indian visas.

He further noted that during the protests, demonstrators briefly went to the hotel where the Bangladesh football team was staying but left respectfully upon recognizing the team.

“They have no bad feelings towards us. So, I don’t think there will be any crisis. Our embassy is in constant contact with them. We hope everyone will be able to come back safely,” Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Thousands of people, including tourists and foreign nationals, were affected by the disruption in Nepal’s air services as protests intensified in Kathmandu and other parts of the country this week.

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