NEW direct flights to Bangladesh from Manchester Airport will cater for up to 300,000 people of Bangladeshi origin in the north.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate from Manchester Airport to Dhaka and Sylhet three times per week.

The new services comes on the back of a delegation led by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who travelled to both cities in October.

In the coming months, delegations from Dhaka and Sylhet will visit Manchester to explore opportunities in a range of business, cultural and educational fields.

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, who was part of the delegation that travelled to Bangladesh at the end of last year, said: “There is no better way to mark the start of a New Year than with the launch of an exciting new long-haul route from Manchester Airport like this one.

“We know there is a significant Bangladeshi community across our catchment area and this Biman Bangladesh service will be hugely popular with friends, family and business contacts travelling in both directions.

“We are confident it will also open up a wide range of fresh collaboration opportunities between Greater Manchester and both Dhaka and Sylhet."

Bangladesh’s national airline will operate the routes from Manchester to Dhaka and Sylhet on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a flight time of just 10 hours.