Bangla Press Editor Chhabed Sathee Writes Open Letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman
Staff Reporter: Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States are calling for a realistic and time-bound roadmap to resume regular passenger flights by Biman Bangladesh Airlines on the New York–Dhaka route, which has remained suspended for nearly two decades. The demand was highlighted by Bangla Press Editor Chhabed Sathee in an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
In the open letter, Sathee said that the absence of a direct flight operated by Bangladesh’s national flag carrier has forced expatriates traveling between the United States and Bangladesh to rely on airports in third countries. Passengers often have to transit through international hubs such as Doha, Dubai and Istanbul before reaching Dhaka. This creates additional hardship, particularly for elderly and ill passengers, wheelchair users and families traveling with young children.
The letter noted that after a long-haul flight, changing planes, moving between terminals, undergoing additional security checks, dealing with gate changes and flight delays, facing uncertainty over baggage and worrying about missing connecting flights can turn the joy of returning home into a stressful and exhausting experience.
Sathee also highlighted the emotional connection expatriates have with traveling aboard Bangladesh’s national flag carrier. Hearing announcements in Bangla, receiving assistance in their native language from Bangladeshi cabin crew and being served familiar food can give expatriates a sense of returning home from the moment they board the aircraft, he said.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended its regular New York service in 2006. Launched in 1993, the service was operated in its final years on the Dhaka–Dubai–Brussels–New York route. The route was discontinued after the last regular flight on July 29, 2006. Reports at the time cited financial losses, aging aircraft and fleet limitations among the reasons for the suspension.
The open letter noted that nearly 20 years have passed since the route was discontinued, yet Biman has not resumed regular passenger service to New York.
During that period, the Bangladeshi community in the United States has expanded significantly. In addition to New York, large numbers of Bangladeshis now live in states including New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia. The letter said this growing population provides a strong reason to reassess air connectivity between New York and Dhaka.
In September 2021, a VVIP chartered flight operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York as she traveled to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The arrival of Bangladesh’s national flag carrier in New York after a long absence raised hopes among expatriates that regular Biman service to JFK might eventually resume.
At the time, then-Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen also spoke about the possibility of restoring regular Biman flights on the New York–Dhaka route. Five years later, however, those expectations have yet to materialize.
The open letter urged policymakers to view the New York route as a matter of long-term national interest rather than as a success or failure of any single political party.
Sathee noted that the route was discontinued in 2006, during the final year of the BNP-led government. Regular Biman service to New York was also not restored during the subsequent long period of Awami League rule.
“After two decades of experience, expatriates no longer want just another political promise,” Sathee said. “We want to know when, how and through which regulatory and technical steps Biman will return to the New York–Dhaka route.”
The open letter called for a publicly available action plan involving the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant U.S. authorities.
It proposed that the roadmap address the aviation safety standards required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, international safety audits, aircraft and crew capabilities, potential routing, the number of weekly flights and the commercial viability of the service.
The open letter emphasized that expatriate Bangladeshis are not merely airline passengers; they are also important stakeholders in Bangladesh’s economy. They contribute through remittances, investment, support for their families, business activities and by promoting Bangladesh’s identity abroad.
For that reason, the letter argued, restoring the national flag carrier’s connection to New York should be viewed not only as a transportation issue but also in the broader context of the economy, tourism, diaspora relations and international connectivity.
At the same time, Sathee stressed that the route should not be restored solely on the basis of emotion if it cannot be sustained commercially. Any renewed service, he said, should be safe, meet regulatory requirements and remain financially viable over the long term.
In the closing section of his open letter to the prime minister, Sathee said Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States hope to see the day when the departure board at New York’s JFK International Airport once again displays:
“Biman Bangladesh Airlines: New York–Dhaka.”
He said direct air connectivity could significantly reduce the difficulties faced by elderly parents and families traveling with young children who currently endure long transit periods at airports in third countries.
During the prime minister’s visit to New York, the letter called on the government to give serious consideration to this long-standing demand of the expatriate community. Rather than making an immediate promise that may be difficult to fulfill, it urged the government to announce a credible and time-bound roadmap for restoring Biman service on the New York–Dhaka route.
“After nearly two decades of waiting, expatriates at least deserve to know when and through what process Bangladesh’s national flag carrier will return to New York,” Bangla Press Editor Chhabed Sathee said in the open letter.
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