Chief Minister Sonowal flags off first-ever Guwahati-Dhaka flight
Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam flagged off the first-ever Guwahati-Dhaka flight, operated by Indian budget carrier SpiceJet, under the international UDAN programme, at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport on July 1.
Terming the day "historic", Sonowal mentioned that after this, the government is now looking to connect all the capitals of ASEAN as well as Nepal and Bhutan with Guwahati.
"Under the guidance of Prime Minster Narendra Modi, we are transforming Assam in all spheres where he has emphasised on 'Act East' Policy," the CM of Assam said adding that direct flight connectivity between Guwahati-Dhaka will not only connect them by air but also pave way for cultural, social, economic and educational bonding between India and Bangladesh.
Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati said that this new flight would be a decisive step in the history of connectivity between India's northeast and Bangladesh.
"Before Partition in 1947, Bangladesh and Assam were part of the same region. Every day, 4,000 (Bangladeshi) patients come to India for treatment but they go to Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. Now, the traders, students and patients can come to Guwahati and other northeastern states easily," he added.
For the Guwahati-Dhaka direct flight, SpiceJet's Bombardier Q400 aircraft will depart Guwahati at 11.55 pm and Dhaka at 2 pm every day, an official of Airport Authority of India said.
Debojo Maharshi, Chief Marketing Officer of SpiceJet said, "With the introduction of the flight between Guwahati and Dhaka, international air travel would be much more affordable and convenient for Indians from the northeastern region.
He further mentioned that with the launch of the new flight between Guwahati and Dhaka, SpiceJet will operate two flights under IACS - the Guwahati-Bangkok service is expected to begin soon - besides operating a total of 43 flights connecting 24 cities under UDAN. "This is the highest number of flights being operated by any Indian airline under UDAN or the regional connectivity scheme."
Meanwhile, Tripura's Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has also been demanding flights between Agartala and Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh.
"Flights between the northeastern states and important cities of Bangladesh will promote trade and tourism," said Pranjit Singha Roy, Transport and Tourism Minister of Tripura.
