Bangladesh team stranded in hotel due to unrest in Nepal, returning on special flight

After three days of uncertainty in Nepal, the Bangladesh national football team is finally returning home. This 32-member convoy will leave for Dhaka on a special flight of the Bangladesh Air Force from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Thursday (September 11). The journalists who were covering the match will also return on the same flight.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release that a press briefing will be held in Dhaka at 3 pm today after the return of the Bangladesh football team.

The Bangladesh team could not leave the hotel due to the unrest in Nepal that began last Monday. Protests spread across the country, including the capital Kathmandu, in protest of the ban on social media, government corruption and mismanagement. At least 19 people were killed and hundreds were injured in security forces' firing. The country's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign as tensions flared. Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport was also closed as the situation heated up.

In this situation, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) postponed the second friendly match of the Bangladesh team. Jamal Bhuiyan could not even go to practice on Monday. The footballers had to spend three consecutive days in a hotel.

Due to the further deterioration of the situation, the Bangladesh team tried to return home early, but it was not possible because the airport was closed. Finally, when the airport opened after Wednesday evening, a special flight was arranged. However, they did not return that day. This Thursday morning, a convoy of 32 people is finally returning home.

After completing the tour of Nepal, the national football team will now prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers. The first match of the third round will be played against Hong Kong in Dhaka on October 9. The return match will be played in Hong Kong on October 14.