The Bangladesh national football team, stranded in Nepal due to political unrest, is finally returning home. On Thursday morning, they departed from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on a special Bangladesh Air Force flight bound for Dhaka. The players, coaching staff, and journalists are expected to arrive in the capital by the afternoon.
The repatriation was arranged jointly by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Nepal, Shafiqul Rahman, along with embassy officials, was present at the airport during their departure.
Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib announced on social media that the government had sent a special Air Force plane to bring the stranded national team back safely.
The Bangladesh national team had traveled to Nepal to play two international friendlies. However, following widespread protests that began on September 8, the scheduled match on September 9 was canceled. Their return flight, planned for the same day, was also canceled after Tribhuvan International Airport was shut down, forcing the players to remain in their hotel.
With conditions easing, the airport reopened on Wednesday. Subsequently, the Armed Forces Division operated a special emergency flight to ensure the team’s safe and swift return.