UK MPs raise concerns over suspension of Manchester–Sylhet flights
Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani
London: A cross-party group of UK parliamentarians has written to the chief executive of Biman expressing “serious concern” over the apparent suspension of the Manchester–Sylhet direct flight route. In a letter sent from the Palace of Westminster, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh led by its Chair, Apsana Begum MP said the Manchester–Sylhet service has become “integral” to the British Bengali community in the North West of England, with many constituents relying on the direct connection to maintain family ties and travel during times of illness or bereavement.
The group warned that indirect flights are often financially and physically unmanageable for some passengers, particularly elderly travellers, people with disabilities, and those facing financial hardship. As a result, MPs said the direct route is especially important for vulnerable members of the community.
“The lack of clear public communication on this issue has exacerbated concerns,” the letter states, adding that uncertainty over the route’s removal from booking systems and how long it may remain unavailable has caused alarm among passengers. The APPG urged Biman, Bangladesh Airlines, working with the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK, to reconsider any suspension of the route and to engage directly with affected communities. MPs also called on the airline to clarify the current status of the Manchester–Sylhet service, explain the rationale for any proposed suspension, and outline steps being taken to protect the route.
While members of the group said they had previously been told that route decisions were based on profitability and ticket uptake, they pointed to widespread public campaigning as evidence of strong demand. The MPs argued that the route should be maintained not only for family and community links, but also for its long-term strategic importance to the North West. The letter was signed by Apsana Begum MP on behalf of the APPG on Bangladesh and copied to Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland, Abida Islam.