After a six-year hiatus, Sylhet Osmani International Airport is going to resume cargo flight operations tomorrow, breathing new life into the movement of goods to international markets amid India’s suspension of transshipment facility for Bangladesh.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines cargo flight, carrying 60 tonnes of goods destined for Spain, is scheduled to take off from the Sylhet airport, the second airport of the country with the European Union's RA3 certificate, at 7:00 pm.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, director of Sylhet Osmani International Airport, said the cargo complex and terminal have already been prepared. Recently, a new cargo facility was constructed at a cost of Tk260 million. Security has been tightened, and all necessary preparations have been completed for the flight.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, Secretary Nasreen Jahan, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan and Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey will be present at the inauguration ceremony.

This initiative comes at a time when India has withdrawn its transshipment facility through its territory for Bangladesh. Instead of seeking a reversal of the Indian directive or any countermeasures, the government is focusing on strengthening domestic capabilities.

The terminal at the Sylhet airport has an initial capacity of 100 tonnes. It is equipped with modern quality equipment, especially the Explosive Detection System (UDS), for the European and UK markets.

CAAB Chairman Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan said the decision to launch cargo flights from Sylhet Osmani International Airport was made to ease the difficulties faced by exporters.

Director of Biman's HSIA Cargo Village Shakil Meraj stated that as this is a Europe-bound flight, all operations will comply with European Union security and safety regulations. 

Certified personnel are being arranged for cargo handling after thorough screening. Biman Bangladesh is overseeing the current cargo infrastructure, including equipment and manpower, at the Sylhet airport.

The Sylhet region, with a large expatriate population residing in Europe, the US, and the Middle East, has a high demand for fresh vegetables.

There is a significant export market in Europe, the US, and the Middle East for Sylhet's vegetables, pineapples, citrus fruits, satkora, betel leaves, frozen fish, aromatic rice, cane furniture, nakshi kantha (embroidered quilts), and cottage industry products. 

For the past six years, cargo flights from Sylhet were suspended, and exporters had to send goods via Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). As a result, demands for reopening Sylhet's cargo services had been growing louder.

In January, former Sylhet City Corporation Mayor and BNP Chairperson's Adviser Ariful Haque Chowdhury met Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dr M Shafiqur Rahman at Balaka Bhaban in the capital to press for the quick resumption of cargo flights.

CAAB officials said Sylhet and Chattogram airports have now been upgraded to Category 1 status. A delegation from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) visited and confirmed this. The start of cargo flights from these two airports is expected to reduce exporters' hassles and costs, while also enabling faster delivery of goods to importing countries.

Ariful Haque expressed gratitude to all concerned for the cargo flight initiative. 

"The shutdown of cargo flights from this airport was a calculated move. In response to the demands from expatriates and local businessmen, we urged the authorities to resume operations promptly. Now the flights are resuming. I hope the government will take quick action to resolve other complications, including the construction of a packaging house," he said.