Sylhet airport resumes cargo flights

After a six-year hiatus, Sylhet Osmani International Airport has resumed cargo flight operations, breathing new life into the movement of goods to international markets amid India’s suspension of transshipment facility for Bangladesh.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines cargo flight, carrying 60 tonnes of apparel goods destined for Spain, took off from the airport, the second airport of the country with the European Union's RA3 certificate, around 8:15pm on Sunday.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin inaugurated the cargo flight operations.

Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Nasreen Jahan, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan, and Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey were present at the inauguration ceremony.

This initiative comes at a time when India has withdrawn its transshipment facility through its territory for Bangladesh. Instead of seeking a reversal of the Indian directive or any countermeasures, the government is focusing on strengthening domestic capabilities.

The terminal at the Sylhet airport has an initial capacity of 100 tonnes. It is equipped with modern quality equipment, especially the Explosive Detection System (UDS), for the European and UK markets.

For the past six years, cargo flights from Sylhet were suspended, and exporters had to send goods via Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. As a result, demands for reopening Sylhet's cargo services had been growing louder.