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Sylhet flights call

1/ 1/2003

MEMBERS of Oldham's Bangladeshi Association have made an appeal for direct flights from Manchester airport to Sylhet with Biman Airlines.

The appeal was made to the Minister for Finance and planning government of Bangladesh Saifur Rahman during his visit to Oldham. Mr Rahman had promised that he would speak to officials in Bangladesh about providing the direct flights. Currently Bangladeshis living in the North West face "tremendous" difficulties in flying out to Bangladesh.

Passengers usually travel as a family, which includes young children and elderly members and the only direct flights by Biman, is from Heathrow in London.

This means families have to hire a mini bus just to get to the airport. The journey takes at least five hours and can be as long as seven in heavy traffic. Families often miss their plane and have to stay in the airport for a full day and night for the next flight often without food or drink.

Said spokesperson for Oldham's Bangladeshi Association, Nazrul Ali: "We have come to know that Manchester Airport will waive airport charges for Biman for the first three years of their contract. This is great incentive offered by them which we feel should be taken up, as this type of incentive may not be offered again, and to miss this opportunity would be a huge mistake on Biman's part.

"We raised the issue with Mr Rahman during his visit to Oldham and he promised he will speak to the Bangladeshi government about it. The only other flight to Bangladesh from Manchester is via Emirates but they don't go direct to Sylhet

"Our wholehearted appeal to the present government is to have at least two flights a week from Manchester which would lessen the hardship of our loyal Biman passengers and benefit the community as a whole."