The Biman Bangladesh Airlines today (5 July) resumed its direct 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 12pm.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, and Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Humayun Kabir received the arriving passengers at the airport.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Afroza Khanam said a large number of people from Sylhet live in the United Kingdom and travel regularly between the two countries.

"Expatriates had long been demanding the resumption of the direct Sylhet-Manchester service," she said, adding that the government would make every effort to ensure the route remains operational.

The minister also said discussions are underway to introduce direct Biman flights between Sylhet and Cox's Bazar.

"We hope the service will be launched soon," she added.

She also said work is underway to upgrade Osmani International Airport to a full-fledged international airport, adding that the expansion would enable more foreign airlines to operate flights to Sylhet.

The government also aims to develop Sylhet into a tourism hub, she added.

Responding to a question about high airfares on the Sylhet-Dhaka route, Afroza Khanam said the government is working to reduce fares.

"It will take some time to address the longstanding irregularities in the sector, but the government is sincere about bringing down fares on this route, particularly considering the needs of expatriates," she said.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said Bangladesh hopes to launch direct flights between Sylhet and Guwahati if bilateral relations with India improve to the desired level.

Direct air links with other parts of India could also be introduced in the future to facilitate travel, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries, he added.

On 1 March, the route had been suspended as per the interim government's decision to allow Biman to redeploy its limited wide-body aircraft for Hajj operations.

At the time, the airline had 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.