Asian – Dispatch

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate three weekly direct flights from Dhaka to Karachi, using Indian airspace.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, has confirmed that Biman Bangladesh Airlines will begin operating three weekly direct flights to Karachi, marking a significant step in improving air connectivity between the two countries.

Speaking on the sidelines of his address at the Foreign Services Academy in Islamabad on Wednesday, High Commissioner Khan said, “Yes, we are starting direct flights with Pakistan. Our national airline will operate three weekly flights to Karachi.” He added that the flights will use Indian airspace, following reciprocal arrangements that allow Indian carriers to fly over Bangladesh.

The new route comes even as there are no Pakistani carriers flying to Dhaka because of the continued airspace ban by India. This, according to aviation experts, further limits the bilateral passenger traffic and trade potential between the two countries.

High Commissioner Khan highlighted the broader economic benefits of the direct route, noting that it could boost traditional industries and local farmers’ incomes. “Direct access will help raise profits for sectors like dates and pashmina, which have historically contributed to trade in South Asia,” he added. He said improved connectivity could revive historical trade patterns that once linked regions such as Kabul, Peshawar, and Dhaka.

The high commissioner also spoke on regional challenges during his lecture in the academy. He emphasized that border restrictions, political differences, and weak infrastructure continue to hamper South Asia’s trade and connectivity potential. “No country can progress in isolation. Regional cooperation is fundamental to sustainable growth,” he said. He pointed to platforms like the new lecture series of the Foreign Services Academy as opportunities for young diplomats to engage with experienced envoys on regional economic and diplomatic issues.

High Commissioner Khan described BIMSTEC as a very important regional grouping that includes India, Thailand, and Bangladesh, but would often be weakened by political rivalries and historical mistrust. He said that it is important to get rid of barriers to regional integration in order for trade, connectivity, and shared development to flourish.

Source: Minute Mirror