The UK NRB Society, comprising Non-Resident Bangladeshis, has voiced concerns over the potential suspension of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Sylhet-Manchester flights, warning that any disruptions would be unacceptable to UK expatriates.
The Society's leaders emphasised the importance of uninterrupted services on the Sylhet-Manchester route.
They said that they would not tolerate further delays or issues with the flights, and, if necessary, Sylheti expatriates in the UK would unite to stop remittances as a form of protest, at a press conference in Sylhet,
M Ahmed Junaid, director of the UK NRB Society, outlined the significance of the flight, which resumed in 2020 after a hiatus. The route serves approximately 300,000 Sylheti expatriates in cities like Manchester, Luton, and Birmingham, as well as Wales and Scotland. It provides essential connectivity, allowing passengers to reach Sylhet Osmani International Airport within 10 hours, offering vital benefits for elderly and child travellers.
However, Junaid raised concerns over the sudden suspension of the online ticketing system two months ago. Biman Bangladesh Airlines cited the route's unprofitability as the reason.
This decision sparked protests from Sylheti expatriates in the north of England, leading to a memorandum submission to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission and Biman officials. They also visited Bangladesh earlier this year to meet with the airline's management to demand the flight's continuation.
In a recent development, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, former mayor of Sylhet City Corporation, spoke with Biman's Chairman, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, who assured that the flights would continue. However, the failure to resume the online ticketing system has led to doubts among expatriates.
Currently, there are two weekly flights on the route, but concerns have arisen that Biman may suspend these during the Hajj season. The UK NRB Society has called for at least one flight to continue for Hajj pilgrims, with the other remaining operational for the Manchester route. The Society warned that canceling both flights would cause significant hardship for expatriates returning to Sylhet during Eid-ul-Azha.
The UK NRB Society urged the interim government to take
immediate action to ensure the continuation of the Sylhet-Manchester
flight service.
The Society also pointed out that the route is not unprofitable, but due to middlemen, passengers often face inflated ticket prices. They urged Biman to investigate and resolve this issue. If delays persist, they warned of a potential remittance boycott as a form of protest.
TF