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 first resumed flight, BG-208, arrived at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet from Manchester at 12:04pm. After a scheduled stopover, it departed for Dhaka and landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 1:30pm, Biman spokesperson Bushra Islam said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Humayun Kabir, welcomed passengers on arrival in Sylhet.
The resumption 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, the flight's pilots and cabin crew, and representatives of Manchester Airport.
Initially, Biman will operate two weekly flights on the route every Tuesday and Saturday using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, connecting Dhaka and Manchester via Sylhet.
The service was suspended on 1 March to allow the national carrier to redeploy its limited wide-body aircraft for Hajj operations. At the time, Biman said operating the Manchester route was not commercially viable because its Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft were also required on Hajj, European and Middle Eastern services.
The restoration fulfils a longstanding demand from Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Kingdom, particularly the Sylheti community, many of whom had been forced to travel via London following the suspension.
Humayun Kabir said the direct service was more than just an air route, describing it as "an important bridge" connecting expatriate Bangladeshis with their families and contributing to the country's economy.
Officials said the reinstatement of the route is expected to ease travel for Bangladeshis living in northern England while strengthening family ties, trade, business and people-to-people links between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.