In a significant development for South Asian aviation and diplomatic relations, direct flight operations between Bangladesh and Pakistan resumed on Thursday following a fourteen-year suspension. The inaugural flight, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, departed from Dhaka for Karachi, marking the restoration of regular air connectivity that had been absent since 2012.
The resumption of direct flights represents a tangible manifestation of improving bilateral ties between the two Muslim-majority nations, which share a complex historical background as former constituents of a single nation until their separation after the 1971 liberation war. The geographical separation of approximately 1,500 kilometers of Indian territory had previously necessitated transit through Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha for travelers between the two countries.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has established a twice-weekly flight schedule, a move that aviation analysts believe will substantially reduce travel time and costs for passengers. Mohammad Shahid, one of the 150 passengers aboard the inaugural Karachi-bound flight, expressed enthusiasm about the renewed connectivity, noting that the previous absence of direct flights had limited his travel frequency to once every two or three years.
The airline emphasized in an official statement that the reestablished air link would significantly contribute to enhancing trade relations, facilitating educational exchanges, and strengthening cultural connections between the two nations. This diplomatic thaw follows substantial political changes in Bangladesh, including the 2024 student-led movement that resulted in the conclusion of Sheikh Hasina’s fifteen-year administration.
The warming relations have already yielded concrete benefits, with cargo shipping operations between Karachi and Chittagong resuming in November 2024. Subsequent months have witnessed increased commercial activity, expanded cultural interactions featuring performances by Pakistani artists in Dhaka, and growing medical tourism from Bangladesh to Pakistan.