Dhaka: Continuing to warm up to Pakistan after the fall of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina's government, Bangladesh has now given its nod to Pakistan's Fly Jinnah Airline to operate direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka. The move paves the way for the establishment of air connectivity between the two South Asian nations after nearly a decade.
The move comes days after Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain declared that direct flights between the two counties would be announced in ‘coming months’. The official argued that better air connectivity between Lahore, Karachi, and Dhaka would facilitate the deepening of trade and business ties.
The two countries have lacked air connectivity since February 2015, the month when state-owned flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated its last flight to Bangladesh.
Following the ouster of PM Hasina in August last year following a student uprising, Dhaka has drifted towards Islamabad under the Muhammad Yunus-led caretaker government, with analysts viewing it as a concern for India.
