Nine international flights rerouted from Dhaka overnight as thick fog blankets airport.

Disruptive dense fog forced nine international flights to divert away from Dhaka, with four sent to India, causing significant travel delays. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport operations halted for hours due to poor visibility on Wednesday night into early Thursday.

Group Captain S.M. Ragib Samad, Executive Director of the airport, confirmed the diversions were a necessary safety precaution. "Runway was not visible in the fog," he stated, explaining the decision to send flights to alternative airports.

Aviation sources confirmed four of the affected flights were redirected to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. These included two US-Bangla Airlines services originating from Dubai and Doha. Also diverted were a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arriving from Madinah and a Turkish Airlines service from Istanbul. Other affected flights landed at alternate airports.

Hundreds of passengers faced extended journeys and uncertainty. Normal flight operations only resumed after 9 a.m. on Thursday once weather conditions improved. All diverted aircraft later returned to Dhaka from Kolkata.

Such fog-related disruptions highlight ongoing challenges for Bangladesh's premier airport during winter, impacting both passenger convenience and airline schedules. Airport authorities typically follow strict international protocols during low visibility to prevent accidents.