A dream has finally come true. After much anticipation, the first cargo flight from Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport has departed for Spain, marking a significant milestone in trade. This inaugural flight, carrying 60 tons of garments, has opened a new chapter in Sylhet’s business landscape.
The official inauguration of the cargo flight took place on Sunday night, April 27, at 8:15 PM, with Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Advisor for Commerce and Civil Aviation & Tourism, as the chief guest.
Following the ceremony at the airport, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal M. Manjur Kabir, presided over the event. In his speech, Sheikh Bashir Uddin said, “Success is not a destination; it is a journey. Today’s success is not the end, but just a part of the journey. We’ve had to bear many burdens due to the fascist government. After its downfall, our capabilities have significantly improved.”
He continued, “Businesses that once had to spend large amounts to use foreign airports can now send cargo at a much lower cost. With today’s cargo flight, the cost of transporting goods from Dhaka to Europe has decreased by 13%. We have been able to resolve many issues that were created during the fascist era, thanks to our collective efforts. This is the first time cargo flights have started from outside Dhaka after the independence, and it is indeed a historic day for the people of Sylhet. The commencement of cargo flights from Osmani International Airport is a revolutionary step.”
Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqul Fazlul Ansari, also a special guest at the event, said, “The long-standing demand of the people of Sylhet was to ensure international-quality services at MAG Osmani Airport. Now, some of the largest airlines in the world will be able to operate from here, providing more choices for passengers.”
He further emphasized, “Remittance workers play an indispensable role in strengthening the country’s economy, and a large portion of these remittance warriors come from Sylhet. Although Sylheti expatriates have significantly contributed to the country’s economy, the airport facilities and international services have not seen the required improvements. However, today marks the beginning of a new era for the people of Sylhet, and I hope this journey continues.”
During his address, he also thanked the aviation advisor and remarked, “After spending more than two hours at the airport, I realized that huge sums of money were misappropriated under the name of airport expansion. Fortunately, the aviation advisor has keenly identified this issue, and I thank him for that.”
He added, “I’m not saying that everything under the current interim government is perfect, but most sectors are functioning well, as demonstrated by today’s event.”
By launching the cargo flight service, a new avenue of opportunity has been opened, he stated, “Previously, we had to rely on other countries for cargo flights, but now we can operate them from our own country. I expect that two cargo flights will be operated from Sylhet each week.”
The event was attended by Nasreen Jahan, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism, senior officials, and notable figures from Sylhet.
In his speech, Air Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir, Chairman of CAAB, said, “Today marks a new horizon for the country’s export trade. This will lead to groundbreaking improvements in our export sector. For now, two cargo flights will operate from Sylhet each week, and we aim to gradually increase the number, InshaAllah.”
The event also saw the presence of BNP’s National Executive Committee’s Co-Organizational Secretary Miftah Siddiquee, Silet District Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Maulana Habibur Rahman, Silet Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Fakhrul Islam, Silet Metropolitan BNP’s General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, former Director of FBCCI Khondkar Shipar Ahmad, Director of Jamuna Oil Company Ltd Saleh Ahmad Khorshu, former General Secretary of Silet Metropolitan BNP Badrulzzaman Selim, Principal of MAG Osmani Medical College Dr. Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, and Barrister Nurul Huda Juned, Central Member of NCP.
On the first day, three companies from Dhaka exported goods through this cargo service. The products were brought by truck to Osmani Airport before being loaded onto the cargo plane.
According to sources at the airport, a cargo complex and terminal were constructed in preparation for the direct cargo flight service from Sylhet. Additionally, modern security equipment and a rapid scanning machine, found only at Dhaka and Sylhet airports, have been installed. The recruitment and training of staff for this service have also been completed, and the relevant authorities from Dhaka have been granted necessary permissions for the operations.
Assistant Commissioner of Osmani International Airport and the Air Freight Department, Mohammad Firoz Hossain Biswas, said, “The cargo flight service from Sylhet Airport has been in trial for about a year and a half. After completing all preparations, we are finally inaugurating it today. The staff at the terminal will be responsible for the cargo services, while some staff from Dhaka have also arrived to assist with loading the cargo. We expect to operate two more flights on May 1 and May 4.”
The launch of the direct cargo service has brought new hopes to the business community in Sylhet. Mohammad Abul Kalam Kalbela, an importer-exporter from Sylhet, expressed his joy, stating, “This is wonderful news for the people of Sylhet. Not only will the business community benefit, but this will also increase the income opportunities for people in various sectors.”
He further explained, “Sylheti businesses will not only be able to export goods but will also have the chance to import via the cargo flights. Initially, it may take some time for the import process to start, but with the direct cargo flights coming to Sylhet, there will be ample opportunities for imports as well. We hope that this service will not be discontinued.”
Mujibur Rahman Kalbela, Acting President of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added, “This provides a great opportunity for exporting garments from Sylhet, and it will also create better opportunities for exporting raw materials. We strongly urge the government to ensure the continuous operation of these cargo flights.”
He also mentioned that if quarantine certificates, packaging, and product freezing systems are introduced at the airport, Sylheti businesses will be able to directly export goods via cargo flights from Sylhet.
