Biman to resume Dhaka-NY flights soon: Momen

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct flights between Dhaka and New York soon, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said.

Flight services between the two cities remain suspended since July 2006.

The Foreign Minister expressed his optimism at Lotte New York Palace on Monday while briefing reporters on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's participation at different events on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

"Our Prime Minister came to New York by a Biman aircraft yesterday (Sunday). We expect Biman operations will begin on this route soon," he said.

"The good news is that they allowed Biman (to land at John F Kennedy Airport, New York). So, I hope Biman operations will start soon, though we don't know the exact date," he said.

The Foreign Minister also said Bangladesh signed an agreement with the Federation Aviation Authority (of the US). "This is why, we can be optimistic," he added.

The Prime Minister arrived in New York on Sunday on a VVIP chartered aircraft of the national flag carrier Biman, raising the image of Bangladesh to a new height.

"If Biman flights resume on this route, Bangladeshis living in the US will be very glad," said the Foreign Minister.