Business

Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to restart direct flights after more than 14 years, announced Dhaka’s national airline on Thursday, January 8. This comes as relations improve and regional dynamics change. Biman Bangladesh Airlines plans to operate its first Dhaka-Karachi flight on January 29, with flights scheduled twice a week. This marks the return of regular flights since 2012. “We are bringing back the Dhaka-Karachi route with two weekly flights,” said airline manager Bosra Islam to AFP on Thursday. Bangladesh and Pakistan, separated by over 1,500 kilometers due to India, were once part of the same country but split after a conflict in 1971. Biman Bangladesh Airlines stated that the resumption of direct flights will greatly enhance connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan, benefiting business travel, tourism, and family visits. Currently, travelers between the two countries have to take connecting flights through Gulf cities like Dubai and Doha. Since a student-led uprising removed Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024, Bangladesh has faced political instability. Following her fall from power, relations with India, her previous ally, became strained, while ties with Pakistan, a fellow Muslim-majority nation, have improved. Additionally, cargo ships resumed operations from Karachi to Bangladesh’s main port in Chittagong in November 2024.