Bangladesh’s return flight delayed due to unrest in Nepal

Bangladesh’s national football team has been unable to return home as planned after violent protests in Nepal forced the closure of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday.

The squad, scheduled to fly back today, remains confined to their hotel under strict security as unrest intensifies outside.

The turmoil also prompted the cancellation of Bangladesh’s second friendly against Nepal, which had been set for Tuesday. Although the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had already moved the team’s tickets from Tuesday to Monday to enable an earlier return, the airport shutdown has disrupted those plans. If the team cannot leave today, officials will need to arrange 33 new tickets.

In a statement, the BFF confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal, and the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) are actively coordinating to ensure the players’ safety.

“Due to the ongoing situation in Nepal, today’s scheduled return of the Bangladesh national football team has been postponed,” the release said. “The Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ANFA are monitoring developments to guarantee the safety of our players. Local authorities and ANFA, alongside our embassy, have assured us that the team is fully safe at their current location. We are closely following the situation and will announce further steps in due course.”

The team had traveled to Kathmandu for two friendlies against Nepal as part of preparations for this month’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Hong Kong. The first match ended goalless on Saturday, while the second was canceled due to the escalating unrest.

For now, the squad’s safe return to Dhaka hinges on when flights resume, with officials continuing to track the crisis closely.