Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to resume direct flights after more than a decade, marking a significant improvement in ties between the two countries. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate its first Dhaka–Karachi flight on January 29, with services scheduled twice weekly, the first regular flights since 2012.
Read More: ‘Pakistan, Bangladesh working on resumption of direct flights
“We are relaunching the Dhaka–Karachi route with two weekly flights,” airline manager Bosra Islam told AFP. The move comes as regional relations shift and connectivity becomes a priority for business, tourism, and family travel.
الحمدللہ ،پاکستان اور بنگلہ دیش کے درمیان تعلقات ایک تاریخی دور میں داخل ہورہے ہیں، پاکستان نے بنگلادیش کی بیمان ایئر لائن کو براہ راست پروازوں کی اجازت دے دی..
🇵🇰 ❤️ 🇧🇩 pic.twitter.com/9HZUVZaqLC— Ather Salem® (@Atharsaleem01) January 1, 2026
Travelers between Bangladesh and Pakistan have had to rely on connecting flights through Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha for the past 14 years. The resumption of direct flights is expected to reduce travel time and costs significantly, enhancing people-to-people and commercial ties.
Bangladesh and Pakistan were once a single country before their 1971 separation following a bitter war. Since then, relations have been cautious, though recent years have seen warming ties, particularly after the deterioration of Dhaka’s relationship with India.
Cargo shipping between Karachi and Bangladesh’s key port of Chittagong resumed in November 2024, and trade and cultural exchanges have grown. Pakistani singers have performed in Dhaka, and Bangladeshi patients are increasingly seeking medical care in Pakistan.
Civil aviation authorities in Pakistan have granted Biman Bangladesh Airlines approval to operate the flights for an initial three-month period, ending March 30, 2026. The flights will commence following formal government clearance and authorization by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Read More: Direct Karachi–Dhaka flights to resume in January
The move is expected to boost economic cooperation and strengthen cultural and social links between the two nations, while also providing a convenient travel option for businesspeople, tourists, and families separated by years of indirect connections.