Biman resumes Manchester flights, promises lower fares for expatriates.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines today resumed its direct Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester service under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directive, with the government also pledging to address airfare disparities and further improve services for expatriate Bangladeshis.
Welcoming arriving passengers at MAG Osmani International Airport this morning, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said the direct service resumed under the Prime Minister's instruction, fulfilling a long-standing demand of Bangladeshi expatriates living in the United Kingdom (UK).
"Today's flight has arrived here under the instruction of the Prime Minister. He has a special soft corner for the people of Sylhet, and we are also working with that same commitment," she said.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-208), carrying 268 passengers from Manchester, landed at the airport at around 11:30am. Of them, 227 passengers disembarked in Sylhet, while 41 continued their journey to Dhaka.
The passengers were received with flowers by Afroza along with Commerce, Industries, Jute and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir and Prime Minister's Adviser Humaiun Kobir.
Addressing a press conference at the airport, the aviation minister said the service, launched for expatriate Bangladeshis, would continue uninterrupted, while efforts would be intensified to make passenger services more reliable and efficient.
"The resumption of this route has been given the highest priority to ease the long-standing suffering of expatriates and ensure they can travel comfortably and in a cost-effective manner. The present government is committed to improving the quality of services and ensuring greater facilities for expatriates," she said.
The minister said the government is also taking necessary initiatives to make airfares on both international and domestic routes more affordable. She said the process of leasing additional aircraft is already underway to ensure uninterrupted operations on the Manchester route, eliminating the possibility of future suspension.
Responding to a question on the significant airfare disparity between flights from Heathrow to Dhaka and Sylhet, the minister said the government had already started working to address the issue.
"I heard this concern during my visit to London as well. We are working on it. We are particularly looking at whether fares can be reduced further by giving greater priority to our remittance warriors," she said.
Replying to another question on the suspension of the Sylhet-Cox's Bazar route, Rita said discussions had already been held with the commerce minister and efforts were underway to resume the service as quickly as possible.
The aviation minister also said work is progressing to upgrade Osmani International Airport into a full-fledged international airport.
"Once the development work is completed, many foreign airlines will be able to operate direct flights to Sylhet. We also want to transform Sylhet into a full-fledged tourism hub," she added.
Commerce, Industries, Jute and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said the government is working to establish Sylhet as one of the country's leading tourism hubs.
"The initiatives are not limited to air connectivity alone. Various measures are being taken to unlock the full potential of the region's tourism sector," he said.
Prime Minister's Adviser Kobir expressed hope that the ongoing expansion of Osmani International Airport would be completed soon. "Once completed, the airport will receive greater international attention," he said.
The Sylhet-Manchester route had remained suspended for about four months due to aircraft shortages during the Hajj season, triggering widespread concern among expatriate Bangladeshis, particularly the Sylhet community living in Manchester and other parts of northern England.
Following the suspension, expatriates launched sustained campaigns in both Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and submitted memoranda to the authorities, demanding the restoration of the direct service.
The government assured expatriates that the profitable route would resume after the Hajj season.
Prime Minister's Adviser on Civil Aviation and Tourism Kobir played a key role in the restoration process.
