After a gap of 14 years, the first direct flight from Pakistan to Bangladesh landed at Jinnah International Airport on Thursday night, as Biman Bangladesh Airlines completed its first journey from Dhaka to Karachi.
In a statement, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said that the Bangladeshi airline has returned to Karachi after a gap of 14 years and was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute.
The authority described the flight as “a new chapter” in the history of the relationship between the two countries.
According to data from FlightRadar24, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG341 landed in Karachi at 11:03pm, after departing from Dhaka at 8:15pm.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also addressed the media at the airport, saying that the collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh would not be restricted to the aviation sector.
“I absolutely want to say that today, after several years, the conspiracies have died,” Tessori said, blaming India for “driving a wedge” between the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
He further said that India was responsible for terrorism in Pakistan and was also “conspiring against Bangladesh”.
“I congratulate the people of Bangladesh, for they have not only defeated the Indian conspiracies but also exposed them,” he said. The governor further said that India has been unfair to Bangladesh in the cricket world as well, as it is “out in the open”.
“The love between Pakistan and Bangladesh will grow because I know that the Bangladeshi people love Pakistanis,” Tessori said. “This love will translate into trade and cooperation, and we will fight these Indian extremists together.”
Earlier in the day, a statement was issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, saying that the “fully packed” first flight had left from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka.
The flight was bid farewell by Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider, and other dignitaries, according to the statement.
“The resumption of direct flight after a hiatus of 14 years marks a significant milestone in strengthening connectivity and bilateral engagement,” it said.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Bangladesh’s adviser for civil aviation and tourism highlighted the significance of the Dhaka-Karachi air route in “enhancing connectivity, promoting tourism, and strengthening people-to-people ties.”
The quote was attributed to him, who said, “Bangladesh Airlines will gradually enhance the frequency of flights and lower airfares to make air travel more accessible to the people.”
He hoped that “people of Bangladesh will visit Pakistan and discover its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and varied cuisine,” the statement further quoted him as saying.
During the inaugural ceremony, Pakistan’s high commissioner referred to the vision of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “to enhance connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
“In view of the vision of the leadership and aspirations of the people of our two countries, during the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August last year, both sides agreed to take immediate measures for the resumption of direct flights,” the statement quoted him as saying.
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He also thanked the government of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority for facilitating the launch of the flight, as per the statement.
