Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Sunday resumed its direct Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester service after a four-month suspension, 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, reports BSS.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and Prime Minister's adviser on Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism Humaiun Kobir were present at the airport to welcome the arriving passengers.
After a scheduled stopover in Sylhet, the flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka at 1:30 pm, Biman spokesperson Bushra Islam said.
The resumption was marked by a brief ceremony at Manchester Airport on Saturday, 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 members of the Sylheti community.
The pledge to reinstate the service has been fulfilled within four months of the new government's assumption of office.
Before the general election, Humaiun Kobir, accompanied by leaders of the UK BNP, met the relevant authorities on January 29 and submitted a memorandum seeking restoration of the route. 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, Humaiun 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," Kobir told the media earlier.
He said the suspension had caused immense hardship for expatriate Bangladeshis, especially the Sylheti community in northern England, as they were forced to travel via London, resulting in longer journeys, higher travel costs and increased inconvenience.
"I opposed the decision from the very beginning," Kobir added.
He said that during the interim government's tenure, he, along with UK BNP leaders, submitted a memorandum to the then National Security Adviser and Biman Bangladesh Airlines Board Member Dr Khalilur Rahman and also highlighted the issue through a press conference.
Kobir said he strongly raised the issue at the first meeting of the high-level committee on civil aviation chaired by the Prime Minister after the new government assumed office.
"I explained to the Prime Minister that this is not merely an air service. It is an important bridge connecting Bangladeshi expatriates with their families, society and the country's economy. Therefore, this route should not remain closed under any circumstances."
Initially, the national flag carrier will operate two weekly flights on the route every Tuesday and Saturday using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, connecting Dhaka and Manchester via Sylhet.
As per the interim government's decision, the route had been suspended on March 1 to allow Biman to redeploy its limited wide-body aircraft for Hajj operations.
At the time, the airline said operating the Manchester service independently was not commercially viable as its Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft were also required on Hajj, European and Middle Eastern routes.
Officials said the restoration of the Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester service is expected to significantly ease travel for Bangladeshi expatriates in northern England while strengthening family ties, trade and business links, and people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.