After a four-month suspension that left the expatriate community frustrated, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has officially resumed its direct flight service between Sylhet and Manchester.

Flight BG-208, carrying 272 passengers from Manchester, landed at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet on Sunday afternoon, marking the return of the popular route.

Addressing Expatriate Demands
The direct service had been temporarily suspended on March 1 to prioritize the smooth operation of Hajj flights.

During the hiatus, British-Bangladeshi expatriates in Manchester and other UK cities staged protests and submitted multiple memoranda to the government demanding the reinstatement of the flights.

The government had previously assured the community that the route would resume following the conclusion of the Hajj season.

"This route is vital for the large number of expatriates residing in the UK," said Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, who welcomed the passengers at the airport alongside other high-ranking officials.

"We are working to ensure this service remains uninterrupted in the future and are prioritizing improvements in passenger service quality."

Expansion and Future Plans
Officials indicated that Biman is actively moving to reactivate other suspended routes as well. Notably, the Dhaka-Narita (Japan) route is scheduled to resume operations on July 31.

During the press briefing at the airport, Minister Rita outlined several strategic goals for the future of aviation in the region:

Expansion of Connectivity: Discussions are underway to launch a direct flight service between Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.

Infrastructure Upgrade: Efforts to develop Osmani International Airport into a fully functional, world-class international hub are ongoing, which is expected to attract more foreign airlines and bolster regional tourism.

Rationalizing Fares: Regarding concerns over high ticket prices on the Sylhet-Dhaka route, the Minister assured that the government is working to address long-standing mismanagement to bring fares to a reasonable level.

A Welcomed Return
For the passengers arriving on Sunday, the resumption of the flight is a major relief.

"The suspension of this route caused significant inconvenience for us for a long time," said passenger Parveen Begum. "The return of the direct flight brings great relief to the expatriate community."

Prime Minister’s Advisor Humayun Kabir reiterated that reinstating this route was a key pledge made to expatriates before the election, emphasizing that the ministry coordinated the effort as a top priority to fulfill that promise.