Sylhet Roundup: West Indies Test Cricket Arrives, New Airline Route, Highway Progress
Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh saw encouraging developments across sports, connectivity, and infrastructure this week, with international cricket, a new air route, and highway progress all making headlines.
Sylhet to Host West Indies for Test Cricket as Bangladesh Prepares Series
Sylhet has been confirmed as one of two venues to host Bangladesh's upcoming two-Test series against West Indies, with the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium set to stage at least one of the matches. The series, scheduled for October-November, will bring international cricket back to Sylhet following the venue's well-received previous hosting of fixtures that drew significant crowds from the city's cricket-passionate community and the large Sylheti diaspora. The Bangladesh Cricket Board's choice of Sylhet reflects confidence in the venue's infrastructure and the strong crowd support the ground typically generates. Sylheti cricket fans, whose community has an outsized presence in the UK's South Asian diaspora through Birmingham and London's Tower Hamlets borough, are expected to follow the series closely with many diaspora members planning to travel to Bangladesh for the matches. West Indies cricket enjoys significant following in Bangladesh for its entertaining playing style. [1]
SalamAir Launches New Direct Flights to Sylhet from Oman, Boosting Diaspora Connectivity
Omani budget carrier SalamAir has announced the launch of new direct flights to Sylhet's Osmani International Airport, a development welcomed by the large Bangladeshi diaspora community working in Oman and the Gulf. The new route provides a more affordable and direct travel option for the tens of thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Oman who previously faced connections through Dhaka or the need to arrange expensive ticket combinations. Travel agents in Sylhet and Oman's Bangladeshi community have reported strong advance bookings for the inaugural flights. The route also opens possibilities for Gulf-connected cargo, including remittances-driven trade in consumer goods, electronics, and clothing that diaspora communities often transport on return visits. Sylhet's airport has been targeting expanded international connectivity as part of a broader effort to position the region as a commercial and diaspora gateway for northeastern Bangladesh. [6]
Dhaka-Sylhet Highway to Be Completed by Mid-2029, Minister Confirms
Bangladesh's Minister for Road Transport and Bridges has confirmed that the long-delayed Dhaka-Sylhet Highway upgrade project is on track for completion by mid-2029, a reassurance that has been met with cautious optimism by residents and businesses along the corridor. The four-lane expressway project, which has faced repeated delays due to land acquisition challenges, contractor capacity issues, and pandemic disruptions, is the single most transformative infrastructure investment planned for Sylhet division. Upon completion, travel time between Dhaka and Sylhet is expected to drop from the current average of five to six hours to approximately two and a half hours, dramatically improving access to markets, healthcare, and education for millions of residents in the northeastern region. Business groups in Sylhet cited the highway as essential for the region's competitiveness in attracting investment, particularly in agro-processing, tea industry logistics, and the growing gas sector. [4]
Sources: [1] Cricinfo · [6] TTR Weekly · [4] tbsnews.net