Bangladesh Football Team Returns from Nepal on Special Flight

The Bangladesh national football team, which had gone to Kathmandu to play their Nepali counterparts in friendly matches only to be caught in the country’s political unrest, are finally back home.

Jamal Bhuyan and the rest of the team arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday morning. From there, they will fly back on a special flight arranged by the Bangladesh Army.

Shafiqur Rahman, Bangladeshi ambassador to Nepal, and embassy officials are present at the airport.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said that the flight is expected to set off for Dhaka around 3pm.

The arrangements for their return were made through the combined efforts of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), the Bangladeshi Embassy in Kathmandu, and the Bangladesh government.

The journalists who had travelled with the team to cover the matches will also be on board the same flight.

The Bangladesh football team went to Nepal on Sept 3 to play two friendly matches. The first match on Sept 6 ended in a goalless draw. The second match was scheduled for Sept 9, which

was eventually cancelled when violence sparked surrounding youth-led protests denouncing corruption and demanding the lifting of a social media ban.

On Tuesday, Nepal's prime minister and several ministers resigned after 19 people were killed in clashes between protesters and police on Monday. The country's parliament building and the homes of ministers were set on fire.

As violent protests spread to parts of Nepal, a curfew was imposed. The airport was closed. Amid the unrest, the Bangladesh football team was stranded in a hotel in Kathmandu.

A Biman flight to bring them back went to Kathmandu on Tuesday, but was not allowed to land due to unfavourable conditions at Tribhuvan International Airport. It later returned to Dhaka.

A statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Wednesday said, “The government is making the greatest possible effort for the safe return of the Bangladesh national football team stationed in Nepal.

“To ensure the safe and unimpeded return of the team, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain is monitoring the situation round the clock.

“The Chief Advisor’s Office and senior officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports are actively working to take necessary steps for the speedy and safe return of the team.”

Bangladesh team midfielder Sohel Rana assured everyone in a video message on Wednesday about his condition.

He said, “Compared with yesterday, our situation is very good today. There was a situation in Nepal yesterday… but the situation is calm now. Since the Army has taken responsibility for everything, our current situation is good.”

“We are in regular contact with our families. Since the security issues are now in the hands of the Army, our families are no longer worried about the situation in the country. We are in a very comfortable situation in the hotel. All in all, our families are free from worry.”