Historic Cargo Flight Marks New Era for Sylhet
Finally, the much-anticipated cargo flight has taken off from Sylhet's Osmani International Airport, heading to Europe via Bangladesh Airlines. This marks a new chapter in the history of Sylhet and Bangladesh as it expands trade via air with Europe. Simultaneously, businesses will save on expenses as goods are exported via this cargo flight, eliminating the need for previous reliance on Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata airports.
At 7:10 PM on Sunday, April 27, a Bangladesh Airlines Airbus 337 cargo flight departed from Sylhet with 60 tons of goods heading to Spain. Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, inaugurated the cargo flight as the chief guest. Bangladesh's Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqul Fazlul Ansari, was present as a special guest, along with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Bangladesh Airlines, and Sylhet Osmani International Airport, as well as political and social leaders from Sylhet.
During the inaugural ceremony, Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated, "Today is a historic day for the people of Sylhet. This is the first time since independence that an international commercial cargo flight has been launched outside of Dhaka. This is not just the work of one individual, the Civil Aviation Authority has also contributed significantly, from increasing runway capacity to addressing various airport issues. Today's success is not our destination; it is our journey."
He also mentioned that the cost of commercial services on the Dhaka-Sylhet route has reduced by 37%, and the cost of travel to the United States has dropped by 13%. He added, "We have been able to resolve the issues created during the fascist era through collective unity. Today marks the first cargo flight launch outside Dhaka since our independence, which is a historic day for Sylhet. The launch of a cargo flight from Osmani International Airport is undoubtedly a groundbreaking step, but I am not satisfied with this. I want even more."
The Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan, presided over the event, with Mushfiqul Fazlul Ansari and Nasrin Jahan, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, delivering special remarks.
In his address, Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazlul Ansari said, "We want to stand on our own feet. Previously, these goods would be sent for cargo through other countries, but now we don't need to go abroad. We will handle the cargo from our own country. I hope that at least two cargo flights will depart from Sylhet weekly."
The airport manager of Sylhet Osmani International Airport, Hafiz Ahmad, delivered the welcome speech.
Present at the event were several political figures, including Miftah Siddiquee, Assistant Secretary of the BNP National Executive Committee; Maulana Habibur Rahman, Amir of Sylhet District Jamaat; Fakhrul Islam, Amir of Sylhet City Jamaat; Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, General Secretary of Sylhet City BNP; Khondokar Shipar Ahmad, former Director of FBCCI; Saleh Ahmad Khusru, Director of Jamuna Oil Ltd.; Badaruzzaman Selim, former General Secretary of Sylhet City BNP; Dr. Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, Principal of MAG Osmani Medical College; and Barrister Nurul Huda Juned, Central Member of NCIP, among others.
Earlier, a cargo complex and terminal were built at Osmani International Airport at a cost of approximately 26 crore taka. Preparations for the cargo flight, including strengthening airport security, were notably visible. The first cargo flight carried only garment products, with no passengers aboard. The commencement of cargo flights is seen as the dawn of a new era for the export of goods from the greater Sylhet region to Europe and other parts of the world.
