Biman resumes Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester flights

Biman Bangladesh Airlines resumed its direct Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester service after a four-month suspension on Sunday, restoring a key air link for thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates, particularly the Sylheti community living in northern England.

The inaugural resumed flight, BG-208, landed at Osmani International Airport from Manchester at 12:04 pm, where Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Humaiun Kobir, warmly welcomed the arriving passengers.

After a scheduled stopover in Sylhet, the flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka at 1:30 pm, according to Biman spokesperson Bushra Islam.

The resumption was marked by a brief ceremony at Manchester Airport on Saturday.

The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner in Manchester, Biman’s Deputy Managing Director, airline officials, the flight’s pilots and cabin crew, and a representative of Manchester Airport.

The route has been restored following a longstanding demand from Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Kingdom, particularly the Sylheti community, fulfilling a pledge to reinstate the service within four months of the new government’s assumption of office.

Before the general election, Humaiun Kobir, accompanied by UK BNP leaders, met the relevant authorities on January 29 and submitted a memorandum seeking the restoration of the route.

Later, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on February 4, he announced that the route would be reinstated if the BNP formed the government.

After assuming office, Kobir prioritised the issue and coordinated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and the Prime Minister’s Office to facilitate the relaunch of the service.

“The resumption of the direct Manchester-Sylhet flight has long been a legitimate demand of Bangladeshi expatriates living in northern England.

When the flight was suddenly suspended, thousands of expatriates, particularly members of the Sylheti community, suffered greatly,” Humaiun Kobir told the media earlier.

He said the suspension caused significant hardship for expatriate Bangladeshis, especially the Sylheti community in northern England, who were forced to travel via London, resulting in longer journeys, higher travel costs and greater inconvenience.