Sylhet in Brief: SalamAir Opens Oman Route, Home Minister Orders Security Overhaul
A landmark aviation link and a high-level security review headline this week from Sylhet. Oman's SalamAir became the first foreign carrier to fly scheduled services directly to Sylhet, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed reinforced a zero-tolerance stance on crime at a regional law-and-order meeting held at the Sylhet Circuit House.
🏢 SalamAir Makes History with First Direct Muscat–Sylhet Flight
SalamAir, Oman's low-cost carrier, has launched its first direct flight between Muscat and Sylhet, Bangladesh, making history as the first foreign airline to operate scheduled services directly to the city. Sylhet now becomes SalamAir's third destination in Bangladesh, extending the airline's footprint further across the Indian Subcontinent. The inaugural flight departed Muscat International Airport on September 1 with a load factor of approximately 70 percent, reflecting strong early demand for the newly opened route. Ahead of the departure ceremony, SalamAir CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns and airline representatives held a formal meeting with Mahmudur Rahman, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Oman, underscoring the diplomatic significance attached to the aviation milestone. Upon arrival at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, an official welcome ceremony was held to mark the occasion. The new direct service is designed to provide affordable and convenient travel, removing the need for lengthy connecting journeys that had previously burdened passengers on this corridor. SalamAir's expansion into Sylhet aligns with Oman Vision 2040 goals to boost international aviation connectivity and support sector growth. Tickets for the route are available through the airline's website, mobile application, call centre, and authorised travel agencies in both Oman and Bangladesh. [7]
🗳️ Home Minister Pledges No Political Shield for Criminals at Sylhet Security Review
Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed issued an unambiguous warning at a law-and-order meeting convened at the Sylhet Circuit House: no individual will receive protection from prosecution on the basis of political identity or party affiliation. Addressing officials from across the district administration, Ahmed declared, “A criminal is a criminal. There is no scope to spare anyone based on political identity or party affiliation,” reaffirming the government's stated zero-tolerance policy toward crime and public disorder. He directed authorities to prepare fully impartial lists of active terrorists, extortionists, drug traffickers and smugglers operating across the Sylhet region, insisting the lists must be free of politically motivated inclusions or unlawful omissions of genuine suspects. District officers were given one month to demonstrate measurable progress. Ahmed further instructed both the Sylhet Range Police and the Sylhet Metropolitan Police to strictly enforce the reward-and-punishment framework already established within the service. The meeting, organised by the Sylhet district administration, covered the region's overall security landscape alongside broader development priorities. The minister's remarks represent a clear effort to reassure residents that law enforcement will be applied consistently, regardless of a suspect's political standing or party connections. [5]
🤝 New Muscat–Sylhet Air Link Offers Direct Connections for Bangladeshi Expats in Oman
SalamAir's launch of a direct air service between Muscat and Sylhet carries particular significance for the large Bangladeshi expatriate community resident in Oman, who now have access to an affordable, nonstop route home without the expense and delay of transit connections through third-country hubs. The Omani low-cost carrier made Sylhet its third Bangladesh destination with this inaugural service, acknowledging the Sylhet diaspora's sustained travel demand between the Gulf and northeast Bangladesh. The inaugural departure from Muscat International Airport recorded a load factor of approximately 70 percent, providing early evidence of the route's commercial viability. Before the flight departed, SalamAir CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns and airline officials met formally with Mahmudur Rahman, Bangladesh's Chargé d’Affaires in Oman, reflecting the official bilateral goodwill that underpins the launch. At Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, dignitaries assembled for an arrival ceremony to welcome the first service. SalamAir is now the first foreign carrier to have established scheduled services directly into Sylhet, a distinction that highlights the city's growing importance within the South Asian airline network connecting Bangladesh to the Gulf region. [2]
Sources: [7] Muscat Daily · [5] bssnews.net · [2] IndexBox