Bangladesh and Uzbekistan have decided to take necessary steps to resume direct flights on the Dhaka -Tashkent route after 20 years.
The decision was taken in a meeting between Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodzaev and Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in the capital on Friday.
Besides, Uzbekistan has also decided to open an Embassy in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister Momen also insisted on resuming commercial flights between the two countries as before.
A code sharing method for operating flights between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan was also discussed in the meeting, so passengers can easily travel to their destinations.
With the code sharing system, passengers would be able to fly on Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ regular flights on Dhaka-New Delhi route and Uzbekistan Airways’ regular flights on the New Delhi-Tashkent route.
Both countries agreed to enhance connectivity and strengthen cooperation in the textile, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and tourism sectors.
Khodzaev said setting up direct links between Bangladesh's Chittagong and Iran's Chabahar ports will cut the cost of transportation of goods, helping boost Bangladesh-Uzbekistan trade.
Momen showed interest in importing cotton and fertilizer from Uzbekistan, reports UNB.
Khodzaev said Bangladesh can export the cotton imported from Uzbekistan to other countries through value addition.
"As many Bangladeshis are interested in visiting and doing business in Uzbekistan," Momen requested the Uzbek deputy prime minister to make the visa procedure easier for them.
Khodzaev said they will introduce the e-visa system for Bangladeshis, which will simplify their entry into Uzbekistan.
At present, there is no direct flight between Dhaka and Tashkent, so Bangladeshi tourists have to take transit flights via Delhi, Dubai, or Istanbul, according to the Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB).
The process is costly and time-consuming.
Uzbekistan Airways first introduced the Dhaka-Tashkent direct flight and the route was turned into commercially viable and gained popularity within a few months in 2002.
However, the flights were canceled due to irregularities and legal disputes.
According to travel operators, many Bangladeshis travelling from the US preferred Uzbekistan Airways and Tashkent as transit due to competitive airfare.