UK-based Bangladeshi expatriates have announced a protest programme titled ‘March for Biman’ in Sylhet to express anger over the temporary suspension of the direct Sylhet–Manchester flight.

The march is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 am, starting from the Central Shaheed Minar and proceeding to the Biman Bangladesh Airlines office.

The announcement was made on Sunday by leaders of the UK NRB Society and the North UK Bangladeshi Heritage Councillors’ Forum, with around ten UK expatriates present.

The expatriates strongly condemned a statement issued by Biman Bangladesh Airlines on January 22 regarding the temporary halt of the Manchester flight.

M Juned Ahmed, Director of the UK NRB Society, said they were “shocked, hurt and angered” by Biman’s announcement. He alleged that some within the airline were profiting while deliberately portraying the route as unprofitable.

He presented data showing that from June to December 2025, nearly 20,000 passengers traveled from Sylhet to Manchester and around 18,000 from Manchester to Sylhet, totaling 38,000 passengers on a route with 45,000 available seats.

UK-based journalist Mizanur Rahman added that although business-class occupancy was low when the route launched in 2020, no business-class seats have remained vacant since the post-Hajj period.

The expatriates urged Biman to resume the direct flight immediately to meet the growing demand of Sylheti passengers in the UK.