The United Kingdom (UK) has lifted ban on direct cargo flights from Bangladesh after nearly two years, excepting for state-owned Biman.
The development comes as the Western country has expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken by the Bangladesh authorities.
National flag Carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be eligible to operate direct cargo flights after availing the 'air cargo or mail carriers operate into the Union from a third country airport (ACC3)' certification.
The four-day audit is scheduled to start from Monday. Biman authority, however, expects to start operation to UK from the first week of March.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ms Alison Blake announced the decision at a press conference organised at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Sunday.
She, however, confirmed that the ban decision was not a political one.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal, Secretary SM Golam Faruk, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice-Marshal M Naim Hasan, CAAB Member (operations) Air Commodore M Mustafizur Rahman and Flight Safety Director Chowdhury M Ziaul Kabir were present at the conference, among others.