ET Desk: After remaining suspended for more than a year, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has resumed direct flights on the Dhaka–Narita route. The government hopes that the reopening of this route will further strengthen investment, trade, education, and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Japan.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Dhaka–Narita route at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday night, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, said that there will be no question of the route being suspended again in the future.
“I hope the route will be profitable this time. Bookings have already been completed for the return flights, in addition to the inaugural flight. This has generated considerable enthusiasm among Bangladeshis living in Japan,” she said.
At the Meet-and-Greet event, the Minister said, “Today’s Dhaka–Narita flight is the result of the collective efforts of all of us. I feel extremely delighted to have been able to implement the directives of the Honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.”
She further said that the resumption of direct flights between Dhaka and Narita would strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan and open new avenues for economic cooperation between the two countries.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said, that the flight had been resumed considering the needs of approximately 45 thousand Bangladeshi students, workers, and migrants living in Japan.
“To ensure that this flight never has to be suspended again, we will add Airbus aircraft to the fleet alongside Boeing aircraft, taking future demand into consideration,” he added.
Recalling the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the State Minister said that, despite a shortage of aircraft, he had launched the Dhaka–Narita flight in 1980 to strengthen relations between Bangladesh and Japan. “Today, under the direction of the Honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we have resumed the flight for the travelling public,” he said.
Following the speeches, the Minister and the State Minister exchanged greetings with passengers travelling to Japan and formally inaugurated the flight by cutting a ribbon.
It may be noted that the direct Dhaka–Narita flight was suspended on July 1, 2025, during the tenure of the interim government. The route has now resumed after nearly a year. At 2:25 a.m. on July 27, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 376 departed for Japan from Dhaka.