Japan has added Bangladesh among 10 countries including India and Pakistan, to the list of countries subject to denial of entry (into Japan). The step came into effect midnight on May 27.
This was stated in a statement issued by the Public Relations department of Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh on Friday to clarify a report on quarantine measures at its airport of 'arrival' in response to the press reports regarding 'ban' on flights from Dhaka to Japan.
The statement said as of May 25, Japan added Bangladesh, together with 10 countries including India and Pakistan, to the list of countries subject to denial of entry into Japan.
"The decision reflects overall assessment on the Covid-19 situation in this region," it said admitting that four passengers, aboard on the chartered flight on April 30, have been found Covid-19 positive after their entry in Japan, but their source/place of infection has not been identified.
However, the statement assured Japan's continuation of extending support to Bangladesh with hope to overcome the current situation in the country soon.
"Bangladesh will overcome the current crisis soon so that the two nation can further deepen the relations between Japan and Bangladesh. 'To that end, Japan will continue to extend its support to Bangladesh,' it assured.
To clarify the situation, the statement of the Embassy said, the Japanese authorities duly conduct quarantine measures at its airports of arrival, which include self-declaration of symptoms, monitoring of body temperature, and the PCR testing when deemed necessary (the testing is mandatory for passengers from 111 countries, as of June 16).
The government of Japan also asks travellers from all over the world to stay at home, etc. and refrain from using public transportation for 14 days after their arrival.
However, Japan did not require the passengers on the chartered flight to show a certificate of the result of Covid-19 testing for their entry either before boarding. The validity or accuracy of the "certificate" has never been an issue.
With the above-mentioned decision and border measures, non-Japanese nationals who have stayed or visited any of those 111 countries, including Bangladesh, within the last 14 days are not permitted to enter Japan unless there are special circumstances, the statement added.
