Biman stops Barisal flight

Flights in the route is stopped since November 3, which will continue till March 25, Biman sources said yesterday.

The officials seeking anonymity said the decision was taken to curtail its loss in domestic routes. But many people including political leaders in Barisal rejected the version, saying why Biman should incur loss while a private airline is operating profitably in the route?

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They said the private airlineGMGis drawing larger number of passengers though its fare is Tk 24,00 against Biman's Tk 16,00.

The GMG is maintaining regular flights in its Barisal-Dhaka route.

Sources in GMG said they are getting the "desired number of passengers".

Biman had started its Dhaka-Barisal flight on December 3, 1995 but soon stopped it.

It resumed flights in April 2003 and also started selling tickets for international routes from Bariasl from June this year.

This had increased sale of Biman tickets.

Some members of the elite in Barisal city talking to this correspondent demanded immediate resumption of Biman flights in the route. The persons this correspondent talked to include Barisal BNP Secretary Nazrul Islam Rajan and convener of city Awami League Shaukat Hossain Hiron.