Biman resumes Manchester flights

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

The first resumed flight, BG-208, arrived at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet from Manchester at 12:04pm before continuing to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, where it landed at 1:30pm, according to Biman spokesperson Bushra Islam.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Humaiun Kobir, greeted passengers upon the flight’s arrival in Sylhet.

The relaunch of the route was also marked by a ceremony at Manchester Airport on Saturday, attended by Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner in Manchester, Biman’s Deputy Managing Director, airline officials, flight crew and representatives from the airport authority.

The restoration of the Manchester service fulfils a longstanding demand from Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Kingdom, especially the Sylheti diaspora, who had repeatedly called for the route to be reinstated after its suspension.

Speaking earlier, Humaiun Kobir described the direct Manchester-Sylhet service as an essential connection for expatriate Bangladeshis rather than merely an air route.

"The direct Manchester-Sylhet flight has long been a legitimate demand of Bangladeshi expatriates in northern England. Its suspension caused significant hardship, forcing passengers to travel through London, increasing travel time, costs and inconvenience,’’ he said.

Kobir said he had opposed the suspension from the outset and raised the issue with the relevant authorities during the interim administration. He added that after the new government assumed office, the matter became one of his priorities, leading to close coordination among the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Prime Minister’s Office to restore the service.

He also said the issue was presented at the first high-level civil aviation committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, where he emphasised that the Manchester route serves as a crucial bridge connecting expatriate Bangladeshis with their families, communities and the national economy.

Initially, Biman will operate two weekly flights on the route every Tuesday and Saturday using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, linking Dhaka and Manchester via Sylhet.

The service had been suspended on 1 March to enable the national flag carrier to deploy its limited wide-body aircraft for Hajj operations. At the time, Biman said operating the Manchester route was not commercially viable due to aircraft shortages and growing operational demands on its Hajj, European and Middle Eastern services.

Officials believe the resumption of the direct route will significantly improve travel convenience for Bangladeshi expatriates in northern England while strengthening family ties, trade, business relations and people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.