Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, has confirmed that Biman Bangladesh Airlines is preparing to launch direct flights between the two countries. The national carrier will operate three weekly flights to Karachi, marking a significant step in enhancing bilateral connectivity.
The High Commissioner announced during an interview with The News Pakistan on the sidelines of his address at the Foreign Services Academy in Islamabad on Wednesday. When asked whether the flights would use Indian airspace, he stated that Biman flights would traverse it, just as Indian aircraft utilise Bangladeshi airspace. However, sources indicate that due to India’s ongoing airspace restrictions concerning Pakistan, Pakistani carriers currently have no immediate prospect of operating reciprocal flights to Dhaka.
During his lecture at the Academy’s new envoy series, High Commissioner Khan articulated a vision for greater South Asian integration. He stated that the region holds vast potential for trade, connectivity, and cooperation, but progress remains obstructed by limited access, border restrictions, and regional politics.
He emphasised that Pakistan and Bangladesh could significantly expand bilateral trade if direct access were improved. Citing practical examples, he noted that Pakistani dates currently reach regional markets via Dubai, and traditional sectors like the Kashmiri pashmina industry could see trade volumes multiply with direct routes. “Direct access would boost profits and raise farmers’ incomes,” he asserted.
The High Commissioner identified weak geographical connectivity as South Asia’s most serious obstacle to progress, despite a history of ancient trade links. He stressed that no country can progress in isolation and that regional cooperation is the only practical way forward.
While acknowledging the importance of regional groupings like BIMSTEC, he observed that colonial mindsets, ideological dominance, and the behavior of larger powers often weaken regional trust. He noted a trend where countries facing internal inequalities sometimes create external distractions, particularly during election cycles, to consolidate political advantage.
