Chattogram-Kunming Flight: The Unfiled Yunus Initiative

The announcement of launching passenger flights on the Chattogram-Kunming route to China came during the interim government of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Prior to Yunus's visit to China, the Chief Adviser's Facebook page announced that China Eastern Airlines would operate direct flights from Chattogram. The announcement remained just that—an announcement. The flight from Chattogram would take two hours, while from Dhaka it would take two and a half hours.

Later, on April 9, 2025, when the Indian government suspended transshipment facilities for Bangladeshi goods via land, sea, and air routes, the Yunus government found itself in trouble. Efforts began to operate direct cargo flights from Chattogram to China. Instead of using Delhi airport, an alternative initiative was taken to send goods by aircraft to Europe and America via Kunming.

Meetings were held with stakeholders at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport. Preparations were made to operate two cargo flights per week. But this initiative never progressed further.

Although there was considerable discussion about operating flights on the Chattogram-Kunming route during the previous government, inquiries reveal that no such application was ever filed. Even the airline being mentioned is unaware of the matter.

Mohammad Safiul Azam, Director (Air Transportation) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, confirmed that no application has been submitted to operate any passenger or cargo flight on the Chattogram-China route. Permission is out of the question. "To tell the truth, we are encouraging domestic airlines to operate flights on this route," he said.

Mohiuddin Mohammad, Managing Director of Sky Bridge, the General Sales Agent (GSA) of China Eastern Airlines in Bangladesh, said daily flights are operating on the Dhaka-Kunming route. No one has applied to operate flights from Chattogram. There was no central directive for this either.

Currently, another Chinese state-owned airline, China Southern Airlines, is operating one daily passenger flight on the Dhaka-Kunming route. Habib Ullah Don, Chairman of Amnester Solution Limited (GSA for China Southern Airlines in Bangladesh), said, "We haven't applied to operate flights from Chattogram either. When the third terminal of Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport opens in 2027, opportunities will arise to operate flights from Chattogram to Kunming or Guangzhou. We are currently assessing the market for both passengers and cargo on this route."

So the question arises: why was there so much drum-beating and propaganda about launching flights from Chattogram to China during the interim government's tenure? The answer comes from a top executive of a private airline. According to him, those statements were part of a campaign showing that during Dr. Yunus's era, Bangladesh was turning towards China instead of India. But the reality is different.

Currently, five domestic and foreign airlines operate direct passenger flights from Dhaka to China. All flights regularly carry passengers at over 70 percent capacity.

Due to easier availability of tourist and business visas for China, a large number of Bangladeshis are traveling to China. Mohammad Mamun, Manager of Trefel Tours and Travels, said most of the businessmen flying to China are from Chattogram. They travel via Dhaka. Additionally, e-commerce business with China has become very popular. As a result, demand for direct flights from Chattogram to China has emerged.

Given the reality, Syed Muhammad Tanvir, Managing Director of Pacific Jeans Group, has demanded direct cargo flights from Chattogram to China. After meeting with Finance Minister Amir Khusru Mahmud Chowdhury, he argued that a huge number of garment product samples are transported by air to and from Bangladesh. A large volume of export products is also air-shipped. All of it is Dhaka-centric. He said benefits could be achieved if foreign airlines are incentivized by waiving tariffs for a specific period at Chattogram Airport and reducing aeronautical charges.